''Cedrelopsis grevei'' is an endemic species of tree found in Madagascar. In Malagasy, it is called katafa or katrafay.

Distribution

It grows in dry, subarid and subhumid bioclimates, on the West coast in the provinces of

Toliara Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in southern Madagascar. It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of the national capital Antananarivo. The current spelling of the name ...

(Tuléar), Mahajanga and

Antsiranana Antsiranana ( ), named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city in the far north of Madagascar. Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region. It had an estimated population of 115,015 in 2013. History At the beginning of the 16th century, a Portugue ...

(Diego Suarez) in altitudes from 0–900 m. It grows as bush-like tree with a diameter of 0.2 to 1.5 m, reaching a height of 2–9 m. Leaf size is 12–20 cm x 6–8 cm.

Uses

Its stem

bark Bark may refer to: Common meanings * Bark (botany), an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick * Bark (sound), a vocalization of some animals (which is commonly the dog) Arts and entertainment * ''Bark'' (Jefferson Airplane album), ...

and leaves are used for the production of

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the ...

that is used in traditional medicine to relieve

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

, fever and muscular fatigue The wood of the katafa is resistant to rot and insects; it was used for the construction of royal tombs. Its wood is used for construction purposes.

Ecology

''Cedrelopsis grevei'' is considered being of Least Concern (LC).

Synonyms

* ''Katafa crassisepalum'' Costantin & Poiss.tropicos.org
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References

* Hist. Phys. Madagascar 34(4): , atlas 2, t. 25,1893 {{Taxonbar, from=Q1052593 grevei Endemic flora of Madagascar Flora of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests Flora of the Madagascar spiny thickets Flora of the Madagascar subhumid forests Flora of the Madagascar succulent woodlands Trees of Madagascar Taxa named by Henri Ernest Baillon Taxa named by Lucien Désiré Joseph Courchet Least concern biota of Africa