Common Name:

General Information

Croton haumanianus is a tree, usually growing up to 15 metres tall but with some specimens up to 35 metres. The cylindrical bole is usually up to 40cm in diameter, occasionally to 100cm[].
The tree is often harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is also used as a pesticide, provides timber and is planted to provide shade in coffee plantations.

Known Hazards

The mashed stem bark and fruits are used in the preparation of arrow poison[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Central African Republic, DR Congo, Congo.

Habitat

Secondary forest and regrowth of lowland rainforest, at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Most Croton species are relatively indifferent to their habitat and can grow on a wide range of soils in both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the grated, bitter, fresh bark is commonly taken as a purgative and diuretic. A bark infusion is taken to treat hypertension and epilepsy[]. Small amounts of bark decoction, alone or in combination with other plants, are drunk to treat gonorrhoea and rheumatism[].
The grated bark is mixed with palm oil and then applied to affected parts of the body to treat rheumatism, headache, pain in the side, oedema of the legs and abscesses. Sometimes mashed leaves are mixed with the grated bark[].

A preparation of stem bark, leaves or fruits is eaten as an aphrodisiac[].

A leaf or bark decoction is taken to treat gonorrhoea, urinary infections, worms, headache, constipation, starting hernia, heartburn, oedema, rheumatism and painful urination. A decoction or infusion is also applied as a purgative in the form of an enema[].

Pregnant women with a history of repeated spontaneous abortions take a spoonful of the liquid obtained from crushed seeds in water to prevent abortion[].

The stem bark contains several diterpenes including crotocorylifuran, a clerodane-type diterpenoid, and crotohaumanoxide, a crotofolane-type diterpenoid[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Croton haumanianus is frequently planted as a shade plant in coffee and cacao plantations[].

Other Uses

Mashed stem bark and fruits are used to kill rats[].

The wood is used in carpentry[].

Propagation

Seed -

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