Margaritaria anomala (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Fruit
Medicinal
Timber
Fibre
Food security

Margaritaria anomala (Baill.) Fosberg

Protologue: Kew Bull. 33(2): 185 (1978).

Family: Euphorbiaceae (APG: Phyllanthaceae)

Chromosome number: 2n = 26

Synonyms

• Phyllanthus erythroxyloides Müll.Arg (1866).

Vernacular names

• Bois chenille (Fr).

Origin and geographic distribution

Margaritaria anomala occurs in Comoros, Madagascar, Aldabra (Seychelles) and Mauritius.

Uses

In Madagascar a bitter root decoction is considered the best medicine to treat impotence. It is also taken to treat chronic constipation.

The fruits are edible. The wood is hard and used to make tool handles and peddles. The twigs are used to make baskets.

Description

Dioecious, deciduous glabrous shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall; bark scaly or detaching in strips, brown. Leaves alternate to whorled at the end of branches, simple and entire; stipules oblong-lanceolate, 2.5–5 mm long, brown, soon falling; petiole up to 6(–10) mm long; blade elliptical to obovate or spoon-shaped, (2–)3–6(–10) cm × 1.5–4(–6) cm, base cuneate, apex rounded to emarginate, with distant shallow glandular teeth in upper part, glabrous or short-hairy. Male inflorescence an axillary cluster, few-flowered; female flowers solitary or sometimes paired at the end of young branches. Flowers unisexual, petals absent; male flowers with pedicel 3–6 mm long, sepals 4, ovate, rounded, 2 outer ones 1–2 mm long, 2 inner ones 1.5–2.5 mm long, greenish, stamens 4, c. 1.5 mm long, free, disk annular; female flowers with pedicel 5–15(–20) mm long, sepals 4, ovate to oblong, 1.5–2.5 mm long, yellowish green, disk annular, 1–2 mm in diameter, ovary superior, ovoid, 2(–3)-celled, styles 3, free or fused at base, up to 1.5 mm long, stigma 2-fid, branches drooping. Fruit an almost globose or laterally compressed capsule or drupe 6–8 mm in diameter, indehiscent or irregularly dehiscent, smooth, blue-greenish, up to 4-seeded. Seeds plano-convex to trigonous-lens-shaped, 3.5–5.5 mm long, fleshy, bluish.

Other botanical information

Margaritaria consists of 13–14 species, and is pantropical. It was formerly included in Phyllanthus and discussion continues as to whether it is distinct or not. Another Margaritaria species is also used medicinally in Madagascar.

Margaritaria decaryana

A root decoction of Margaritaria decaryana (Leandri) G.L.Webster (synonym: Phyllanthus decaryanus Leandri) is drunk as a stimulant and aphrodisiac, and to treat impotence and senility.

Ecology

Margaritaria anomala occurs in bushland and deciduous forest, from sea-level up to 1000 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Margaritaria anomala is probably not common in its distribution area. It is rare and endangered in Mauritius, and a multiplication program has started there.

Prospects

Margaritaria anomala will probably remain of local importance only, unless pharmacological tests can prove the stimulant activities of the roots.

Major references

• Boiteau, P., Boiteau, M. & Allorge-Boiteau, L., 1999. Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux. 4 Volumes + Index des noms scientifiques avec leurs équivalents malgaches. Editions Alzieu, Grenoble, France.

• Webster, G.L., 1979. A revision of Margaritaria (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 60: 403–444.

Other references

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• Schatz, G.E., 2001. Generic tree flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 477 pp.

Author(s)

• G.H. Schmelzer, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Schmelzer, G.H., 2008. Margaritaria anomala (Baill.) Fosberg. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 23 April 2026.

• See the Prota4U database.