Cryptolepis oblongifolia

(Meisn.) Schltr.

Apocynaceae

+ Synonyms

Cryptolepis acutifolia (Sond.) N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis angolensis Welw. ex Hiern

Cryptolepis arenicola Dinter

Cryptolepis baumii N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis brazzaei Baill.

Cryptolepis buxifolia Chiov.

Cryptolepis debeerstii De Wild.

Cryptolepis elliotii Schltr.

Cryptolepis hensii N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis linearis N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis myrtifolia (Baill.) Schltr.

Cryptolepis nigritana (Benth.) N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis scandens (K.Schum.) Schltr.

Cryptolepis sizenandii Rolfe

Cryptolepis suffruticosa (K.Schum.) N.E.Br.

Cryptolepis welwitschii (Baill.) Schltr.

Ectadiopsis acutifolia (Sond.) K.Schum.

Ectadiopsis buettneri K.Schum.

Ectadiopsis lanceolata Baill.

Ectadiopsis myrtifolia Baill.

Ectadiopsis nigritana Benth.

Ectadiopsis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr.

Ectadiopsis ruspolii Chiov.

Ectadiopsis scandens K.Schum.

Ectadiopsis suffruticosa K.Schum.

Ectadiopsis welwitschii Baill.

Ectadium oblongifolium Meisn.

Secamone acutifolia Sond.

Common Name:

Somewhat difficult to make out, the red-stemmed plant is growing in grassland in the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photograph by: JMK
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

General Information

Cryptolepis oblongifolia is a dwarf shrub with thin, erect, little-branched stems, growing around 40cm tall.
The plant yields a good quality fibre and is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - widely distributed through tropical Africa and south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Savannah woodland[

332

Title: The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
Author: Burkil. H. M.
Publisher: Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year: 1985 - 2004
ISBN
Description: Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/

]. Found primarily on sandy sites in forests, though it can be found in a wide range of site conditions[

775

Title: Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
Publication
Author: Leffers A.
Publisher: Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
Year: 2003
ISBN: 99916-0-491-X
Description: Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.40 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A latex is produced from damaged areas on the plant[

775

Title: Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
Publication
Author: Leffers A.
Publisher: Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
Year: 2003
ISBN: 99916-0-491-X
Description: Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.

].

Whitish, cotton-like fibres can be obtained from the outer layers of the root[

775

Title: Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
Publication
Author: Leffers A.
Publisher: Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
Year: 2003
ISBN: 99916-0-491-X
Description: Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.

]. Quite strong, they can be twisted to form finer or coarser cords for ornamental use and are also used to make simple baskets[

775

Title: Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
Publication
Author: Leffers A.
Publisher: Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
Year: 2003
ISBN: 99916-0-491-X
Description: Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.

Propagation

Seed -

Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-05-04. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cryptolepis+oblongifolia>

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