''Dorstenia barteri'' is a West African plant species belonging to the family ''

Moraceae Moraceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 48 genera and over 1100 species, and is commonly known as the mulberry or fig family. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however, their ...

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Description

A herb, 60 cm high, with a creeping rooting base. Stem erect, somewhat fleshy, subflexuous, pubescent to tomentose in the upper portion, up to 5 cm thick in the lower portion. Leaves papery when dry, obovate-elliptic to elliptic, shortly acuminate, narrowing to an obtuse base, margin entire or wavy, 14–18 cm long, 5–8 cm wide, glabrous, paler green beneath; lateral nerves 8–10 on each side, curving upwards and uniting within the margin, prominent beneath; petiole more or less pubescent, about 1.2 cm or less in length. Stipules subulate, 5–6 cm or less in length, generally falling before the leaves. Inflorescence solitary in the upper leaf-axils; stalk 1.2– 2 cm long, puberulous; receptacle flattened or somewhat convex, orbicular, 2.5–4.5 cm in diameter, including the broad membranous margin (7–10 cm wide), which is prolonged into numerous (about 15) very unequal bract-arms, a few from 1.2– 2 cm long, the remainder short, from 2.5–7.5 cm long. Flowers very distinct. Male flowers 3-merous, the 3 bluntly rounded perianth-lobes depressed on the surface of the disc. Female perianth ring-like, raised above the disc-surface, the deeply 2-fid style projecting from the mouth. Endocarp of fruit subglobose, smooth, whitish brown, 4 cm in diameter.Hutchinson, J. & Rendle, A. B.
Flora of Tropical Africa
', Vol 6, Part 2, 1916: 17.

Medicinal uses

''Dorstenia barteri'' is used in West African folk medicine. It contains numerous flavonoid compounds that have anti-microbial, anti-reverse transcriptase, and anti-inflammatory effects.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15471603 barteri