Common Name:

General Information

Entada abyssinica is a deciduous shrub or low-branching, tree with a flat, spreading crown; it usually grows 7 - 10 metres tall, but it can be as small as 2 metres or up to 15 metres[, , , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre and wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental and has been recommended for use in agroforestry.

Known Hazards

The juice of the bark and cambium has been used as ordeal poison, placed under the eyelid[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Habitat

Savannah grassland, and an understorey tree in wooded grassland and open forests at elevations from 60 - 2,300 metres[, , ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier to moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 28°c, but can tolerate 15 - 35°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,000mm[]. The plant grows wild in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 500 - 1,270mm[].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade[, ]. Tolerates a variety of soils ranging from loam to clay loams and sometimes friable clay over laterite[]. Prefers a sandy loam soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[].
A fast-growing plant when in a good soil[].
The seedpods are very large, around 15 - 37cm long and 5cm wide[].
Plants can be coppiced[].
The plant is not resistant to bush fires[].
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

None known

Medicinal

The leaves are febrifuge and tonic. They are used to make a tonic tea and for wound healing[, ].
The leaves contain rotenone and tannins[].

The bark is abortifacient[]. It is used in the treatment of colds, stomach pains, and bronchial problems[].
A decoction of the stem bark, combined with the stem barks of Ozoroa insignis, Gymnosporia senegalensis and Lannea schimperi, plus the aerial parts of Rhynchosia resinosa, is used in the treatment of peptic ulcers. This decoction has been shown to have a dose-dependant protective activity and also to have moderate antibacterial activity[]


The roots have an antidotal effect against various toxic agents[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has good potential for agroforestry since it does not compete with crops and may improve the soil[]. It is often conserved around homesteads and in coffee and tea plantations for the light shade it provides[].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for making bands, ropes, storage bins[].

Ashes from the wood are rich in potash and are suitable for soap making[].

The wood is pale brown, occasionally tinged with pink. It is soft, moderately light in weight and easy to work[, ]. It is used for small carpentry[].
The wood is often used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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. Sow in individual containers in a sunny position[]. A germination rate of 70 - 90% can be expected from treated seed[].
Division of root suckers.

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