The genus Detarium comprises three very similar species: Detarium microcarpum, Detarium senegalense and Detarium macrocarpum, which grow in different habitats. This species is typically found in dry savannah whilst Detarium senegalense is more riparian and also occurs in dry forest, and Detarium macrocarpum occurs in humid forest[].

Common Name: Sweet Dattock

General Information

Sweet dattock is a shallow-rooted, deciduous shrub or small tree with a twisted bole and widely spreading crooked branches, growing up to 9 - 10 metres tall[, ].
A valuable multipurpose tree, it is widely utilized for food, medicine and various commodities throughout its range[]. The leaves and roots are commonly sold in local markets for medicinal purposes[]. Although not cultivated, it is often left growing when forest is cleared for farmland[].

Known Hazards

The bark is said to be poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal east to Sudan.

Habitat

Drier areas in open forests; wooded savannas; depression,; colluvium; deep sand on laterite; sometimes planted; also abundant on fallow land; on various types of soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of hot, tropical savannahs, it is most common in regions with an annual rainfall of 600 - 1,000 mm[].
In the wild, plants are mainly found on shallow, stony and lateritic soils[]. Probably requires a well-drained soil[].
Trees coppice well[].
Regenerates well from shoots produced by the trunk or roots[]. Shoots from the trunk are much more vigorous than seedlings and can reach a height of 1.5 - 2 metres in 1 - 2 years[]. Average seedling height after 3 years is 0.6 metres, and the seedling may reach 1.5 metres in 4 years[].
Young trees are regularly cut down on agricultural land because of the horizontal rooting system[].
The trees are pruned to stimulate fruit production on young branches[]. The trees are either cut at soil level or at 10 - 60 cm height; suckers formed on high stumps survive bush fires better than root suckers[].
A tree can produce 675 fruits on average, i.e. about 7 kg[].
Trees often produce seedless fruits[].
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[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is sweet and commonly eaten fresh, while the pulp is used in the preparation of cakes and couscous[, ]. The fruit is about 4cm long and 2.5cm wide[].
The fruits can be stored for 1 - 3 years in jute bags[].

The pulp of the fruit is used as a substitute for sugar[].

The seeds and leaves are eaten as a condiment and vegetable[].

The seeds are dried and ground into a flour[]. This is used as a traditional emulsifying, flavouring and thickening agent[].
The seeds contain a high content of gum (water-soluble polysaccharides)[]. This gum can be used to increase the water absorption of wheat flour and the mixing tolerance index of the dough significantly[]. Oil-water emulsions stabilised by the seed flour or gum tolerate freezing and thawing better than commercial salad dressing, egg powder and gum tragacanth emulsions[]. Addition of the gum to fruit products such as mango, orange, pineapple or tomato, improved their stability in storage (at 26°C) for at least 2 months and was well acceptable to consumers[].

Medicinal

The bark, leaves and roots are widely used throughout the plant's native range because of their diuretic and astringent properties[]. Modern research has verified the presence of medicinally active compounds[]. The bark has been found to contain 2 tetranorditerpenes, the clerodane diterpenes catechine and cis-2-oxokolavenic acid (0.5%), the diterpene copalic acid (1.7%) and coumarin (1%)[].
An ethanol extract of the bark has demonstrated antimicrobial action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Listeria monocytogenes[]. The extract also showed moderate antitumor activity against breast cancer cells[].
The flavones present in a methanol extract of the plant showed strong inhibitory effects on HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection[].
A bark extract showed significant molluscicidal activity against Lymnaea natalensis[].

The bark, leaves and roots are prepared as infusions or decoctions to treat a wide range of ailments including rheumatism; venereal diseases and urogenital infections; haemorrhoids; caries; problems of the digestive system such as biliousness, stomach-ache, intestinal worms, diarrhoea and dysentery[]. They are also used against malaria, leprosy and impotence[].
Applied externally, the fresh bark or leaves are used to treat wounds, to prevent and cure infections[].

A decoction of the powdered bark is widely taken to alleviate pain such as in headache, sore throat, back pain and painful menstruation[]. The bark is also used to treat measles, nocturia, hypertension, itch and tiredness[]

A decoction of the leaves or roots is taken to treat paralysis, meningitis, tiredness, cramps and difficult delivery[].
A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat fainting and convulsions[].
The leaves, combined with the leaves of Sclerocarya birrea and Acacia macrostachya, and pounded in milk, are considered a very efficient treatment for snakebites[].

The powdered seeds are applied to skin infections and inflammations[].

The fruit is eaten to cure meningitis and malaria[]. A preparation of the fruits is taken to treat dizziness[].
Externally, the fruit pulp is used for treating skin infections[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is well integrated in the traditional agroforestry systems of the Sahel, and it can be coppiced well[].
The leaves are used as an organic fertilizer[].

Other Uses

The tree produces a fragrant resin[].
The seeds are used as frankincense[].
The heated roots are sweetly scented and are used as a perfume and as a mosquito-repellent[].
A methanol extract of the leaves has exhibited strong feeding deterrent activity against the termite Reticulitermes speratus[].

The seeds are used to make necklaces for women[].

In southern Mali the leaves are used as roofing material[].

The leaves are used to make masks[].

The dark brown wood is hard, tough, moderately heavy, with a regular grain, and is easy to work[, , ]. It is durable and long-lasting even under water[]. The wood is used for carpentry, fence poles and joinery[].
The wood is well appreciated as firewood, as it lights quickly even if wet, burns slowly and gives off a pleasant aroma[, ].

Propagation

Seed - germinates best if pre-treated. To break dormancy, stored seeds are soaked in sulphuric acid for 30 minutes, followed by thorough washing and soaking in water for 24 hours[]. Scarification with sand and additional fungicide treatment also improves germination[]. Dormancy can also be broken by boiling the seeds for 7 minutes followed by soaking in lukewarm water for 24 hours[]. In a nursery, germination started 8 - 10 days after sowing. After 47 days, 71 - 100% of the seeds sown in polythene bags had germinated[].
Natural germination is hampered by bush fires and dry spells. Direct-sown plantations have not been successful because of the slow early growth[].
Seeds can be stored at ambient temperature (26°C) for 5 years[].
Grafting adult twigs or shoots[].

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