Common Name:

General Information

Croton polytrichus is a shrub or tree, sometimes adopting a climbing habit. It can grow up to 7.5 metres tall, but is more likely to be 3 - 5 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia.

Habitat

Dry evergreen forest and thicket; occasionally in woodland; sometimes on rocky hills or riverine; Baikiaea mutemwa (thicket of dry deciduous forest on Kalahari Sand); pemba thicket (S Zambia); itigi forest-thicket (N Zambia)[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	4.00 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 extract of the roots is taken to treat headache, irregular menstruation and labour pain[]. The root powder, either alone or mixed with that of Croton dichogamus, is mixed with porridge or tea to treat impotence and colds[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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