(Redirected from Dalbergia sericea)
Mundulea sericea
(Willd.) A.Chev.
Fabaceae
Cytisus sericeus Willd.
Dalbergia sericea Bojer
Mundulea suberosa (DC.) Benth.
Tephrosia suberosa DC.
Common Name:
General Information
Mundulea sericea is a semi-deciduous large shrub or tree with a bushy crown; it can grow from 1 - 8 metres tall, with occasional specimens to 12 metres being recorded. The bole is straight, with a corky, smooth or fissured bark[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
,
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It can also be grown as a hedge and is a potential pioneer species for restoring native woodland. The natural range of the species has been greatly extended owing to its cultivation as a fish poison[
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
]. An attractive tree, it is also often grown in the ornamental garden[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Known Hazards
The pounded bark, leaves and sometimes the seeds and roots are used for fish poisoning. Very effective, unlike most other fish poisons which merely stun the fish, this plant usually kills them but also usually leaves them safe to eat[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Botanical References
500- Title
- Flora of Somalia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thulin M. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Kew Publishing, London.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses.
,
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
Range
Africa - widespread in drier areas from Guinea and Mali to Somalia, south to S. Africa and Madagascar; E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Open places in lowland evergreen forest and bushland; rocky hills in deciduous woodland. deciduous bushland and thicket; locally common but absent from large areas; at elevations from sea level to 1,950 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Properties
Habit | Semi-deciduous Tree |
Height | 6.00 m |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Pollinators | Bees |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in full sun or in light shade. Prefers a well-drained, deep sandy or gravelly soil, preferably rich in organic matter[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The tree is relatively slow-growing with a growth rate of 50 - 100cm per year, though the growth rate increases as the tree ages[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The corky bark of this species helps to give it some protection from bush fires[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Plants respond well to coppicing[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The root system is not aggressive[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are used as an emetic to treat poisoning in both people and dogs[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Infusions of the root are used to treat infertility[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree can be used as a mulch and green manure crop[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Plants can be grown close together and trimmed to make a hedge[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The plant is likely to be useful in reafforesting bare hills in such regions as Bellary, India[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
The leaves, bark and seeds all contain rotenone (the active constituent of the insecticide derris)[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The bark is used in east Africa to repel crocodiles[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The pounded leaves are mixed with lard and used as a hair dye[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Small branches are used as toothbrush sticks[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The heartwood is yellow, the bark a lighter yellow. The wood is close-grained, tough, hard, and produces a strong, unpleasant scent when worked[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
,
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Propagation
Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. The seeds should germinate in 2 - 6 weeks. When the seedlings reach the two-leaf stage (12 - 16 weeks after sowing), transplant them into nursery bags, pots or individual containers. Use sandy soil (or clay soil with 50% sand mixed in) with some well-rotted compost, taking care not to damage the long taproot. Seedlings and young trees usually transplant well[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Cuttings[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.