Landolphia

Landolphia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1806. They take the form of vines that scramble over host trees. Landolphia is native to tropical Africa.

Characteristics
There are about fifty species of Landolphia in continental Africa and about fourteen more species in Madagascar. They are typically found in forest habitats in tropical West and Central Africa, scrambling over trees, but a few species are large shrubs. They have simple, glossy green leaves in opposite pairs, jasmine-like flowers with tubes and parts in fives, and hard-shelled, fleshy fruits with several seeds embedded in the pulp. After fruiting, the flower stem develops into a twisting tendril which branches near its tip.

Uses
Members of this genus exude latex when the bark is damaged. The vines have traditionally been used to supply rubber but that function has increasingly been taken over by the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis which can be conveniently grown in plantations. The latex from these vines is still used to a limited extent for rubber production. Many species have large edible fruits which are sweet and juicy and rich in beta-carotene. However, commercialisation of the crop is difficult because of the nature of the vines, their need for suitable supports and the lack of knowledge of suitable cultivation techniques.

• # Landolphia angustisepala - Gabon, Zaïre
 * Species

• # Landolphia axillaris - Gabon

• # Landolphia breviloba - Gabon, Congo

• # Landolphia bruneelii - Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Zaïre

• # Landolphia buchananii - C + E + S Africa

• # Landolphia calabarica - W Africa

• # Landolphia camptoloba - C Africa

• # Landolphia congolensis - C Africa

• # Landolphia cuneifolia - S Zaïre, NW Zambia

• # Landolphia dewevrei - C Africa

• # Landolphia dulcis - W + C Africa

• # Landolphia elliptica - Madagascar

• # Landolphia eminiana - C + E Africa

• # Landolphia exilis - Madagascar

• # Landolphia ferrea - Gabon, Congo

• # Landolphia flavidiflora - Cameroon

• # Landolphia foretiana - W + C Africa

• # Landolphia fragrans - Madagascar

• # Landolphia glabra - C Africa

• # Landolphia glandulosa - Gabon, Cameroon

• # Landolphia gossweileri - SE Angola, Zambia

• # Landolphia gummifera - Madagascar

• # Landolphia heudelotii - W Africa

• # Landolphia hirsuta - W Africa

• # Landolphia hispidula - Madagascar

• # Landolphia incerta - W + C + S Africa

• # Landolphia jumellei - C Africa

• # Landolphia kirkii E + C + SE Africa

• # Landolphia lanceolata - Congo, Zaire, Angola

• # Landolphia landolphioides - C + E Africa

• # Landolphia le-testui - C Africa

• # Landolphia lecomtei - C Africa

• # Landolphia leptantha - Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria

• # Landolphia ligustrifolia - Congo, Zaire, Gabon, Cameroon

• # Landolphia macrantha - Sierra Leone, Guinea

• # Landolphia mandrianambo - Madagascar

• # Landolphia mannii - C Africa

• # Landolphia maxima - Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria

• # Landolphia membranacea - W Africa

• # Landolphia micrantha - W Africa

• # Landolphia myrtifolia - Madagascar

• # Landolphia nitens - Madagascar

• # Landolphia nitidula - Liberia, Ivory Coast

• # Landolphia noctiflora - Gabon

• # Landolphia obliquinervia - Madagascar

• # Landolphia owariensis - much of tropical Africa

• # Landolphia parvifolia - C + E + S Africa

• # Landolphia platyclada - Madagascar

• # Landolphia pyramidata - Gabon, Central African Republic

• # Landolphia reticulata - Gabon

• # Landolphia robustior - C Africa

• # Landolphia rufescens - Zaïre, Angola, Zambia

• # Landolphia sphaerocarpa - Madagascar

• # Landolphia stenogyna - Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria

• # Landolphia subrepanda - C Africa

• # Landolphia tenuis - Madagascar

• # Landolphia thollonii - Zaïre, Angola, Congo

• # Landolphia togolana - W Africa

• # Landolphia trichostigma - Madagascar

• # Landolphia uniflora - Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria

• # Landolphia × utilis - Ivory Coast

• # Landolphia villosa - C Africa

• # Landolphia violacea - C Africa

• # Landolphia watsoniana - Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique