Philenoptera laxiflora

Botanical Description

Philenoptera laxiflora is a deciduous shrub or tree that is often branched from the base or with a small, branched crown. It can grow 6 - 8 metres tall, exceptionally to 15 metres, with a slender bole that is often crooked and can be up to 20cm in diameter[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use mainly as the source of a dye, but this is a multipurpose tree that also supplies food, medicines, an insecticide and wood. The leaves are sometimes traded for use as a dye. With its delicately scented blue or pinkish flowers, crowded in panicles all over the crown, the tree has potential as an ornamental[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Despite general threats within its native range, this species is not thought to be specifically threatened or in decline. It is therefore classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].