Common Name:

General Information

Bridelia atroviridis is an evergreen straggling shrub or much-branched small tree, usually growing up to about 12 metres tall, but specimens up to 20 metres tall have been recorded in the south of its range[, , ]. The branches are sometimes spiny[]. The bole is up to 45cm in diameter[].
The bark is a popular herbal remedy in west Africa, where it is commonly harvested from the wild and is also sold in local markets[]. The plant has various other uses, for food, medicine and as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, south to Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Evergreen, deciduous and secondary forests, also extending into the savannah, at elevations from sea level to 1,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The seeds are said to be eaten in S Nigeria[].

Medicinal

The bark is aphrodisiac, diuretic and purgative. A decoction is used in the treatment of breathing difficulties, urethral discharges, fevers, dysenteric diarrhoeas, and for fever and rheumatic pains[]. A bark-macerate is used in the treatment of coughs[].
The bark infusion is also used as a mouth wash to treat thrush in children[]. The mouth is rinsed with a twig or root bark maceration to treat caries[].

The leaves are purgative. They can be wilted for 1 - 2 days and then boiled up in water with some lime juice added and the whole drunk. This is purgative, sudorific and febrifuge, and is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and fevers[, ]. Inhalations of the vapour from the boiling also induce sweating[].
The leaf infusion is also used externally for bathing and in vapour baths[].

The bark contains tannins and saponosides[].
An extract of the stem of Nigerian plants has been tested for molluscicidal action on the freshwater snail, Bulinus globulus, and has been reported to be very effective, 100 ppm extract giving 100% mortality[].

Other Uses

The roots are used as chew sticks to keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy[].

The bark contains about 31% tannins[]. (This is almost certainly the dried bark[].

The bark is used to produce dyes of different colours, using various mordants to achieve the desired colour[].

The heart-wood is dark brown, very hard and durable. It is used in house building, tool handles, wooden spoons and as pillars for looms[, ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - a germination rate of 50 - 60% can be obtained within 3 weeks of sowing[].
Mature seeds are dried and stored in air-tight containers at room temperature[].
Propagation by stem cuttings is possible[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 10 times itself is?