Pachyelasma

{{Short description|Genus of legumes}} {{Speciesbox |image = Pachyelasma tessmannii00.jpg |image_caption = A specimen of ''P. tessmannii'' from Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo that is locally known as {{lang|fr|l'arbre de l'authenticité}} where tribal elders held court |display_parents = 2 |genus = Pachyelasma |parent_authority = Harms 1913 |species = tessmannii |authority = (Harms) Harms 1913 |synonyms = ''Stachyothyrsus tessmannii'' <small>Harms 1910</small><ref>Harms, H. (1911). Einige Nutzhölzer Kameruns. II. Leguminosae. Notizblatt Des Königl. Botanischen Gartens Und Museums Zu Berlin, 5, 9–75. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27669771</ref> |synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO>{{cite web |title=''Pachyelasma tessmannii'' (Harms) Harms |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:512008-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427095532/https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:512008-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}

'''''Pachyelasma''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae.<ref name="6subfamilies">{{cite journal | author = The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). | year = 2017 | title = A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny | journal = Taxon | volume = 66 | issue = 1 | pages = 44–77 | doi = 10.12705/661.3| doi-access = free | hdl = 10568/90658 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> It contains only one species, '''''Pachyelasma tessmannii''''', which is native to central Africa.<ref name=POWO/>

==Description== ''Pachyelasma tessmannii'' is an evergreen tree growing up to {{cvt|60|m}} tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk up to {{cvt|2.5|m}} in diameter. The flowers are red and the fruits are four-angled black pods that may be up to {{cvt|37|cm}} in length.<ref name=POWO/><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Robin |last1=Doucet |first2=Jean-Louis |last2=Doucet |first3=Phillipe |last3=Lejeune |first4=Cécile |last4=Verheyen |first5=Tom |last5=De Mil |first6=Patrick |last6=Martin |first7=Paul |last7=Lagoute |first8=Benoit |last8=Jourez |year=2021 |title=Wood description and timber use investigation of ''Pachyelasma tessmannii'' (Harms) Harms |journal=European Journal of Wood and Wood Products |volume=80 |pages=199–212 |doi=10.1007/s00107-021-01758-3}}</ref> [[File:Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (1912) (14577323878).jpg|thumb|Fig. i. ''Pachyelasma tessmannii''. A flowering branch, B bud, C flower, D flower in longitudinal section, F stamens, G pod, H pod in cross section, J seed, K seed in cross section, L seed in longitudinal section]]

==Distribution and habitat== ''Pachyelasma tessmannii'' can be found in the wet tropical regions of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria.<ref name=POWO/>

==Uses== The fruit is sometimes used by fishermen in remote areas of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo for poison fishing.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=H. D. |last1=Neuwinger |year=2004 |title=Plants used for poison fishing in tropical Africa |journal=Toxicon |publisher=Elsevier |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=417–430 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.05.014|pmid=15302524 |bibcode=2004Txcn...44..417N }}</ref> Some cocoa farmers in Cameroon mix the bark with other plant materials and extracts to create a natural pesticide.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=O. |last1=Coulibaly |first2=D. |last2=Mbila |first3= D. J. |last3=Sonwa |first4=Akin |last4=Adesina |first5=J. |last5=Bakala |year=2002 |title=Responding to economic crisis in sub Saharan Africa: New farmer-developed pest management strategies in cocoa-based plantations in Southern Cameroon |journal=Integrated Pest Management Reviews |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=165–172 |doi=10.1023/b:ipmr.0000027500.24459.fe|s2cid=83664935 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Caesalpinioideae Category:Monotypic Fabaceae genera Category:Flora of Cameroon Category:Flora of the Central African Republic Category:Flora of the Republic of the Congo Category:Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Category:Flora of Gabon Category:Flora of Nigeria Category:Taxa named by Hermann Harms