Common Name:

General Information

Milicia regia is a shortly deciduous tree; it usually grows up to 35 metres tall with occasional specimens to 45 metres. The bole is usually straight and cylindrical, often branchless for more than 20 metres, up to 200cm in diameter, without buttresses, but spurs may become very large and extend into long surface roots[].
The wood is a highly valued commercial timber in Africa, for which demand is large - it is often harvested from the wild. The tree also supplies food, medicines and various materials for local use. The fruit is sometimes sold in local markets in Ghana[]. Milicia regia is often considered a sacred tree in Africa, it is cultivated outside its native range in parts of west Africa[].
Milicia regia is one of the most valuable commercial timber trees of Africa, due to its attractive appearance, durability, stability and the good working properties of the wood. Exploitation is often unsustainable - in the 1980's, for example, the extraction rate of Milicia regia and Milicia excelsa in Ghana was estimated to be about 173,000 m³ per year, whereas the regeneration rate was estimated to be only about 29,000 m³ per year. Milicia regia is considered to be a priority for in situ conservation[]. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

The wood and sawdust may cause dermatitis, irritation to nose and throat, and asthmatic reactions[]

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal and Gambia to Ghana.

Habitat

Rainforests at low elevations, but also often found as a lone tree in cultivated areas[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Milicia regia is a plant of the moist, lowland tropics. It has been cultivated and has grown well in Nigeria, on sandy soils with 2,000 - 2,500mm of rain per year, whereas on coarse sand and gravel with 1,000 - 1,500mm of rainfall, the trees grew poorly and were of bad form[].
The tree demands intense light and does not tolerate deep shade[299. In young secondary forest it cannot compete with the climbers and shrubs. It requires a well-drained soil[]. This species is considered to be more water demanding and less drought-resistant than the closely related Milicia excelsa[].
Cultivation of the plant has proven to be difficult because plantations are often severely affected by pest problems[].
Young plants transplant well[].
Four-year-old trees in a plantation in Nigeria were 9 metres tall with a stem diameter of 13cm[].
The plant coppices well[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The fruit comprises a number of achenes, each 2.5 - 3 mm long, arranged in an infructescence 5 - 8cm long and 1.2 - 2cm wide. Each achene contains a pale brown seed about 2mm long[].

Medicinal

The latex in the plant is credited with antiseptic and healing properties and is applied on wounds and burns[].


Other plant parts probably have similar medicinal uses as those of Milicia excelsa.[]. These are as follows:-

A root decoction is taken to treat female sterility. A decoction of the root and stem bark is taken as an aphrodisiac[].

The bark is aphrodisiac, galactagogue, purgative and tonic[]. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions including cough, asthma, heart trouble, lumbago, spleen pain, stomach pain, abdominal pain, oedema, ascites, dysmenorrhoea, gonorrhoea, general fatigue, rheumatism, sprains[].
Bark preparations are externally applied to treat scabies, wounds, loss of hair, fever, venereal diseases and sprains[]. They are also applied as an enema to cure piles, diarrhoea and dysentery[].

The latex is considered to be galactagogue[]. It is taken in the treatment of stomach problems, hypertension, tumours and obstructions of the throat[].
Externally, it is applied on burns, wounds, sores and against eczema and other skin problems[].

The leaves are galactagogue[]. They are eaten to treat insanity, and a decoction is taken for the treatment of gallstones[].
Externally, leaf preparations are used in the treatment of snakebites and fever, and as eye drops to treat filariasis.

Other Uses

The bark is used for dyeing leather and cloth[].

A white latex exudes from the bark. It is used as a glue, and has been used as an adulterant in rubber[].

The heartwood is pale yellow to brown, darkening upon exposure; it is clearly demarcated from the 50 - 75mm wide band of paler sapwood. The grain is interlocked; texture medium to coarse; the wood has a strong mint-like odour and a slightly oily feel. The wood is of medium weight, moderately hard, of good durability, being resistent to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons well, without warping or splitting; movement in service is small. The wood is easy to saw and to work with hand and machine tools - it contains, however, hard deposits ('iroko stones', mainly consisting of calcium carbonate), which can blunt cutting edges. In planing, the interlocked grain may cause some tearing, but this can be avoided by using cutting angles of 15° or less. The wood holds nails well, but nailing may cause some splitting. It finishes well, but filler is needed. It glues easily. A wood of high quality, it is used for construction work, shipbuilding and marine carpentry, sleepers, sluice gates, framework, trucks, draining boards, outdoor and indoor joinery, stairs, doors, frames, garden furniture, cabinet work, panelling, flooring and profile boards for decorative and structural uses. It is also used for carving, domestic utensils, musical instruments and toys. As it is resistant to acids and bases, it is used for tanks and barrels for food and chemical products and for laboratory benches. It is used as sliced veneer but only rarely as rotary veneer[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal299].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 14 - 28 days[]. When the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out about 4 months later[].
Stem cuttings. Good percentage[].
Root cuttings. Good percentage[].
Layering.
Grafting.

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