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Maesa lanceolata, or the false assegai, is a tree species that is widespread in the Afrotropics, including Madagascar. It occurs from the southern Arabian Peninsula to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It grows on stream verges, river banks and forest verges, where it is often a pioneer plant.
Oleane type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins have been isolated from the leaves of the species, also isolated from the leaves and fruits of the species is the bioactive benzoquinone, Maesanin.
The yellow fruits of the species are consumed by the Yellow-whiskered greenbul and the olive-breasted mountain greenbul but can be toxic to humans.
Though considered toxic to human the extracts of Maesa lanceolata have been used in different communities to treat various ailments. In East Africa root and fruit extracts are used by native healers in decoctions to treat cholera disease, tapeworm and sore throat.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Maesa lanceolata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
