Combretum afrum

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Combretum caffrum 77601376.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author1=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |year=2022 |title=Combretum caffrum |volume=2022 |page=e.T208458264A208458266 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T208458264A208458266.en |access-date=23 July 2024}}

| genus = Combretum

| species = afrum

| authority = (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kuntze

| synonyms = *Dodonaea afra Eckl. & Zeyh.

  • Combretum salicifolium E.Mey. ex Hook.
  • Dodonaea conglomerata Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Dodonaea dubia Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Combretum caffrum

| synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Combretum afrum (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Kuntze |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:169982-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=12 August 2024}}

}}

Combretum afrum,{{cite journal |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02365-x | doi=10.1038/d41586-024-02365-x | title=Hundreds of racist plant names will change after historic vote by botanists | date=2024 | last1=Callaway | first1=Ewen | journal=Nature | pmid=39026072 | url-access=subscription | access-date=8 August 2024 | archive-date=8 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808163208/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02365-x | url-status=live }} commonly known as Cape bushwillow, is a species of tree native to South Africa. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces.

Biochemistry

Image:Combretastatin A4.svg

In C. afrum, combretastatins A-1, A-4 and B-1 can be found.[https://ods.od.nih.gov/Research/PubMed_Dietary_Supplement_Subset.aspx?mode2=detail&origin=ibids_references&therow=229739 Isolation, structure, and synthesis of combretastatins A-1 and B-1, potent new inhibitors of microtubule assembly, derived from Combretum caffrum(sic). Pettit, G R : Singh, S B : Niven, M L : Hamel, E : Schmidt, J M, J-Nat-Prod. 1987 Jan–Feb; 50(1): 119–31]

Taxonomy

The etymology of the original species name caffrum is related to kaffir, an ethnic slur used towards black people in Africa. At the July 2024 International Botanical Congress, a vote was held with the result that "caffrum" related names will be emended to afrum related ones, with the implementation of this happening by the end of July 2024.{{Cite news |last1=McKie |first1=Robin |date=20 July 2024 |title=Botanists vote to remove racist reference from plants' scientific names |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/20/botanists-remove-racist-references-plants-scientific-names |access-date=21 July 2024 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}

References

  • {{cite web

|url=http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/combretastatin/combv.htm

| title = Combrestatin – Molecule of the month

| accessdate = 20 September 2006

| author = Mike Thompson

| date = 6 September 2005

| work = Bristol University Chemistry Dept Home Page

| publisher = Bristol University}}

  • {{cite journal

| vauthors = Pettit GR, Cragg GM, Singh SB

| date = May–June 1987

| title = Antineoplastic agents, 122. Constituents of Combretum caffrum

| journal = Journal of Natural Products

| volume = 50

| issue = 3

| pages = 386–391

| pmid = 3668557

| doi = 10.1021/np50051a008}}

{{reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q128929227|from2=Q5150959|from3=Q50839089|from4=Q50831439|from5=}}

{{-}}

afrum

Category:Endemic flora of the Cape Provinces

Category:Plants described in 1835

{{Myrtales-stub}}