Common Name:

General Information

Croton mongue is an evergreen shrub or tree with a rounded crown; usually growing up to 20 metres tall, but occasionally up to 30 metres. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It has been proposed as suitable for large-scale production of match-sticks, but the usually small bole diameter is a serious drawback. It has good prospects as a pioneer species for the reforestation of degraded land[].

Known Hazards

A toxic protein, monguine, was extracted from the seeds; it inhibits protein synthesis[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - eastern Madagascar.

Habitat

Forest, often in secondary or degraded forest along rivers, at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. It is found in regions with an average annual temperature of about 17°c; a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm; and with up to 3 dry months in the year[].
Most Croton species are relatively indifferent to their habitat and can grow on a wide range of soils in both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation[]. This species is found in the wild on clayey and lateritic soils[].
The tree is said to be fast-growing, though another report says that the average height after one year's growth from seed is only 28cm[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the bark is administered as a tonic in cases of anorexia, fatigue and depression[].

Bark and leaf decoctions are applied in bathes and lotions to treat blennorrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer species, the tree is suitable for use in reforestation projects to restore native woodland[]

Other Uses

The heartwood is whitish; it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight, texture medium, wood surfaces are slightly lustrous. The wood is light in weight; it is not durable, being liable to attacks by fungi and insects.
It is easy to saw and work with hand and machine tools; usually planes and sands to a smooth and lustrous surface; the screwing, gluing, varnishing, painting and jointing properties are all satisfactory; however, the nail-holding capacity is only moderate. It is suitable for rotary-cut veneer. The wood is occasionally used, mainly for laths of tiled roofs, support poles for crops, fence posts, boxes and matches. It is suitable for joinery, moulding, plywood and particle board[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking in water for 48 hours improves germination rates. The seed usually germinates abundantly when sown in a sunny position, with a germination rate of around 65%, and sprouting taking place within 20 - 40 days[].

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