The screening of medicinal plants traditionally used to treat ...

50with their methyl ester (Van Wyk and Wink, 2004) and aromatic compoundssuch as myrcene, myrcenone and limonene (Viljoen et al., 2005)Conservation statusUppia javanica is not endangered.Family:Scientific name:Common name:Zulu name:CELASTRACEAEGymnosporia buxifolia (= Maytenus heterophylla)Common spike-thomIsibhubuFigure 2.18 Gymnosporia buxifolia branch (www.worldbotanical.com/africanplants. htm).Botanical descriptionGymnosporia buxifolia has common spike thoms. It is a small, evergreen,drought resistant tree with drooping branches. The leaves are often in tufts,thinly leathery and dull green mainly on the upper half. The flowers are whitein colour with many flowered axillary heads and a strongly unpleasant smell.Fruits are a globose capsule of about 5 mm in diameter, rough white withreddish brown patches (Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997). The large spikemakes this a good perimeter plant. This plant attracts birds which eat thenumerous berries it produces (Hutchings et al., 1996).