Xanthocercis Explained

Xanthocercis is a tree genus in the family Fabaceae. It includes three species native to sub-Saharan Africa.^{[1] [2]}

• Xanthocercis madagascariensis Baill. — endemic to Madagascar; a deciduous tree, growing up to 30 metres tall.^[3] The wood is highly valued, being harvested from the wild for local use and for export. The tree also provides an edible fruit that is used locally.
• Xanthocercis rabiensis Maesen^[4] — endemic to Gabon; a large, evergreen tree growing up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 300 cm in diameter.
• Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Baker) Dumaz-le-Grand (Mshatu tree) — native to Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe; a large impressive, evergreen tree with an exceptional dense, rounded to wide-spreading crown of glossy, drooping, dark green leaves and sprays of small rose-scented, creamy white flowers.^[5] It usually reaches 30m in height. It is ideal for large gardens.

Members of this genus accumulate hydroxypipecolic acids and iminosugars in their leaves.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for Xanthocercis . . International Legume Database & Information Service . Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics . 30 January 2014 .
2. Web site: GRIN species records of Xanthocercis . USDA . USDA . ARS . Agricultural Research Service . National Genetic Resources Program . Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database] . National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland . 30 January 2014 .
3. Web site: Xanthocercis madagascariensis - Useful Tropical Plants. 2021-07-09. tropical.theferns.info.
4. PlantSystematics.org: Xanthocercis
5. Web site: Xanthocercis zambesiaca PlantZAfrica. 2021-07-09. pza.sanbi.org.
6. Kite GC, Cardoso D, Lewis GP, Zartman CE, de Queiroz LP, Veitch NC . 2015 . Monomethyl ethers of 4,5-dihydroxypipecolic acid from Petaladenium urceoliferum: Enigmatic chemistry of an enigmatic legume . Phytochemistry . 116 . 198–202 . 25817832 . 10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.02.026. 2015PChem.116..198K .