fever tree
Vachellia xanthophloea · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (4 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Fever tree, scientifically known as Vachellia xanthophloea, is a prominent African medicinal plant valued for its therapeutic properties. Renowned for its distinctive yellowish bark, it is traditionally used to treat various ailments, including malaria and fever. This resilient species plays a vital role in both ecosystem stability and ethnobotany.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf
- Common names
- Fever Tree · Fever-Tree Acacia · 10 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Acacia Songwensis · Acacia Xanthophloea
Names
Common Names
- Fever Tree
- Fever-tree Acacia
- Fevertree Acacia
- Fevertree Thorn
- Look-Out Tree
- Naivasha Thorn
- Sulphur Bark
- Sulphur Bark Thorn
- Sulphur Tree
- Sulphur-Bark
- Sulphur-Bark Thorn
- Sulphur-Bark Tree
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Fieberbaum
- Gelbdorn
- Gelbrinden-Akazie
French:
- Arbre à fièvre
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Vachellia xanthophloeaSynonyms
- Acacia songwensis
- Acacia xanthophloea
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Specifically, it falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and is identified by the genus Vachellia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Vachellia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically in the nation of Somalia. The species is also widely distributed throughout East Tropical Africa, encompassing both Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, its presence reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Malawi.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Malawi | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Mozambique | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Vachellia xanthophloea, utilizes its leaves as a significant component in its medicinal profile. These leaves serve not only as the primary site for photosynthesis but also as a reservoir for various bioactive compounds used in traditional healing practices. Depending on the specific application, preparations involving the leaves are often employed to address diverse ailments, showcasing the functional importance of this particular plant part in the species' therapeutic utility.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Vachellia xanthophloea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Procyanidins, polyphenols.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Procyanidins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Fitoterapia
Procyanidins
- Fitoterapia
polyphenols
- Fitoterapia
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf methanolic extracts | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |