Carpolobia alba

{{Short description|Plant species in the family Polygalaceae}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Carpolobia alba.jpg

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |date=2019 |title=Carpolobia alba |volume=2019 |page=e.T143656408A143720054 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T143656408A143720054.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}

|genus = Carpolobia

|species = alba

|authority = G.Don

|synonyms=

• Carpolobia delvauxii E.M.A.Petit
• Carpolobia glabrescens Hutch. & Dalziel

}}

Carpolobia alba is a plant species in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae) that is endemic to rainforests, forest fringes, and savanna-park with altitudes below {{convert|400|m|ft}} in Western Tropical Africa.{{cite web |title=Carpolobia alba G.Don |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:690159-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=July 2, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Carpolobia alba G.Con |url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=115836 |website=www.ville-ge.ch |publisher=Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Ville de Geneve |access-date=July 2, 2020}} It is a shrub or small tree which is {{convert|3|to|6|m|ft}} tall. Its branches are puberulous or shortly pubescent. Its leaves are membranous or slightly leathery.{{cite book |last1=Oliver |first1=Daniel |title=Flora of tropical Africa |date=1868 |publisher=L. Reeve and co. |pages=135–136 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/347825#page/190/mode/1up |access-date=July 2, 2020}} The flowers it produces are yellowish white or white with a crimson spot at the base of upper petals. It produces yellow or scarlet-coloured fruit which are edible and usually contain 3 seeds. It was first described by George Don in 1831.{{cite web |author1=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |author2=Harvard University |author3=Australian National Herbarium |title=Carpolobia alba |url=https://www.ipni.org/n/690159-1 |website=International Plant Name Index}} It is used traditionally as a medicine against sexual dysfunction.{{cite journal |last1=Nwidu |first1=Lucky Lebgosi |last2=Nwafor |first2=Paul Alozie |last3=Vilegas |first3=Wagner |title=The aphrodisiac herb Carpolobia: A biopharmacological and phytochemical review |journal=Pharmacognosy Reviews |date=2015 |volume=9 |issue=18 |pages=132–139 |doi=10.4103/0973-7847.162128 |pmid=26392711 |issn=0973-7847|pmc=4557236 |doi-access=free }}