Common Name:

General Information

Berchemia discolor is a semideciduous shrub or tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow 3 - 20 metres tall. It has a straight bole[].
A multipurpose tree providing food, medicines and various commodities for local use. In particular, the fruit is commonly collected from the wild, often being dried and stored for later use, whilst the wood is one of the hardest in eastern Africa. The fruit is also sold in local markets[]. The tree is planted as an ornamental, making an effective shade tree, and can also be used as a windbreak[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - Eritrea to Somalia, south through eastern Africa to Angola and Zambia, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Scattered in semi-desert grassland, open woodland, riverine woodland and wooded grassland at lower elevations[]. Found especially on termite mounds[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, growing naturally in various climates, from semi-arid areas to areas receiving rainfall in 4 years out of 5, where it is found at elevations up to 1,900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 14 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 38°c[]. It can be killed by frosts[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 200 - 1,400mm[].
Prefers a position in full sun, tolerating light shade[]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils of moderate to high fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The growth rate is relatively fast, 600 - 800 mm/year[].
A good tree to plant at or near watering points, as its roots are not aggressive[].
The tree responds well to coppicing and pollarding[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. A pleasant, sweet-tasting flesh[]. It can be eaten boiled with sorghum[]. The fruit has a high content of sugar and vitamin C[]. The yellow, date-like fruit is up to 20mm long and 8mm wide, containing 1 - 2 flat seeds[].
A strong, alcoholic drink is distilled from the fruits[].

Seed[]. A walnut-like (Juglans spp.) flavour[].

A beverage similar to tea is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

The roots have various medicinal uses[].

The bark is used in the treatment of liver problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as a windbreak[].

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the heartwood[]. It can be used as a glue[].

A black dye, popular with basket makers, is produced from the powdered heartwood and the roots[, , ].
A red dye is obtained from the bark[].

A whitewash produced from the wood ash is used for painting houses[, ].

The heartwood is yellow-brown with a reddish tinge, the sapwood is pale brown. The wood is very hard, heavy and fine grained. It is excellent for making furniture such as tables, chairs and benches and is also used in making poles, pestles and hair combs[].

Propagation

Seed - germination takes some time due to the hard seed coat, it can be sped up by scarifying the seed or immersing it in hot water and then allowing the water to cool for 12 hours[].
Root suckers.

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