Tabernaemontana sananho
| Sananho (Tabernaemontana sananho) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tabernaemontana sananho [1] |
| Common names | Sananho, sanangillo, uchu sananho, lagarto micunam, yerba amarga [2] |
| Family | Apocynaceae [1] |
| Genus | Tabernaemontana [1] |
| Order | Gentianales [1] |
| Native range | Northern South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and neighbouring regions [2] |
| Habit | Shrub or small tree; a lowland-rainforest understory plant in the Ecuadorian field record [3] |
| Fruit | Fleshy fruit with two narrow ridges; fruits were described as sweet in an Ecuadorian ethnobotanical record [3] |
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Tabernaemontana sananho is a tropical shrub or small tree of northern South America. Sananho, sanangillo and uchu sananho are among its recorded names. Its native range includes lowland evergreen rainforest and other forested habitats, and a field record from Ecuador describes the plant as an understory tree. [2][3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The species has repeatedly dichotomously branched growth and white, five-parted flowers. Its fleshy fruits have two narrow ridges, and the numerous ellipsoid seeds are deeply grooved on one side. These characters come from a voucher-identified plant collected at 425 m in lowland evergreen forest in Pastaza, Ecuador. [3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
The lowland evergreen-rainforest setting suggests a warm root zone with dependable moisture. As a habitat-based starting point, use an organic, free-draining medium kept evenly moist while avoiding prolonged saturation. Drainage and local response matter more than a rigid watering calendar. [2][3]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Understory habitat favors bright filtered light or partial shade with warm, humid air. Acclimate gradually before attempting more direct light. This is a conservative habitat-based starting point rather than a measured shade limit. [3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
This evergreen-tropical-forest plant should be protected from chilling and root-zone drying during a pronounced dry or cool season; allow the medium to drain after irrigation. Irrigation and cold response are local cultivation variables rather than fixed species limits. [2][3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
The fruit contains numerous ellipsoid seeds deeply grooved on one side. Seed form is documented, while germination treatment and timing remain open questions for provenance-preserving trials. [3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
White, pentamerous flowers and fleshy fruits with two narrow ridges are documented for the species. [3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
An Ecuadorian ethnobotanical record describes the fruits as sweet and eaten by several Ecuadorian peoples, while the Kew plant-use record lists the infructescences as edible fruit. These are geographically and culturally scoped food-use records rather than a general food-safety clearance. An integrative review discusses an irritant alkaloid in sananga and calls for further research; this is not a fruit-specific toxicology result or dosing guidance. [2][3][4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [3] Luzuriaga-Quichimbo et al., “Scientific validation of the traditional knowledge of Sikta (Tabernaemontana sananho, Apocynaceae) in the Canelo-Kichwa Amazonian community,” Mediterranean Botany 39(2), 2018.
- ↑ [4] Robert, Sieben and de Lima, “Etnobotanica da planta Tabernaemontana sananho Ruiz & Pavon (Apocynaceae) - Revisao Integrativa,” Revista Fitos, 2023.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Hojas y frutos de Uchu sanango (Tabernaemontana sananho).jpg — Cbrescia, Wikimedia Commons file page, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph made at the Takiwasi botanical garden, Tarapoto, Peru, 25 September 2021.
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