Common Name:

General Information

Millettia stuhlmannii is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown; it can grow from 6 - 25 metres tall, with reports of some trees reaching 35 metres. The cylindrical bole can be straight or bent, it is up to 120cm in diameter[, ].
This tree is widely harvested from the wild for its wood, indeed it provides one of the most important export timbers in Mozambique[].
This species has a limited area of distribution, but is locally common or even dominant. However, several reports conclude that current harvest levels are too high and rapid depletion of many stands has been predicted[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust may cause dermatitis, asthma and irritation to throat, nose and eyes[].
Millettia species in general contain a range of toxic substances, especially isoflavones. Rotenone is probably the best known of these isoflavones and it is found especially in the seeds and roots of the plants. Rotenone is often used locally as a fish poison - the rotenone kills or stuns the fish making them easy to catch, but the fish remain perfectly safe for warm-blooded creatures to eat. Rotenone is classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to many insects (hence its use as an insecticide) and also to aquatic life, including fish. This higher toxicity in fish and insects is because the lipophilic rotenone is easily taken up through the gills or trachea, but not as easily through the skin or the gastrointestinal tract. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg, but human deaths from rotenone poisoning are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone, however, can be fatal.
The compound decomposes when exposed to sunlight and usually has an activity of six days in the environment.
Millettia species often also contain other potentially toxic compounds, especially saponins and alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - southern Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, where it can be locally dominant, favouring areas of higher rainfall and the moister soils of riverine forests; at elevations up to 900 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[].
The tree responds well to coppicing[].
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

A root decoction is drunk to treat stomach-ache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Poles planted during the rainy season serve as a live fence[].

Other Uses

The heartwood contains robinetin, a dye-precursor for keratin-based fibres[].

The heartwood is dark brown or black-brown, with bands of whitish tissue giving a characteristic 'partridge-breast' figure on tangential surfaces; it is sharply demarcated from the 25 - 75mm wide band of pale yellow sapwood. The grain is straight; texture fine to medium; abundant gum deposits are present. The wood is heavy, very durable, being resistant to fungal, dry-wood borer and termite attacks, but the sapwood is susceptible to powder-post beetle attack. It is somewhat difficult to saw and work, and sawteeth and cutting tools may blunt rapidly; stellite-tipped sawteeth and tungsten-carbide tipped cutting tools are recommended; a 15° cutting angle is recommended in planing. It turns well; can be polished to a fine surface, but this should be done carefully to avoid splinters; pre-boring before nailing and screwing is needed; the wood holds nails well. The wood can be rotary cut for veneer, but prior intensive steaming is needed. The gluing and varnishing properties are poor due to the presence of resin cells; the use of a filler improves the results considerably[]. The wood is highly valued for light and heavy flooring and for furniture. It is popular in the veneer industry, where it is used for decorative furniture. It is also used for joinery, panelling, cabinet work, doors, staircases, window frames, carving, turnery and musical instruments. It is suitable for heavy construction, ship and boat building, mine props, railway sleepers, vehicle bodies, implements, toys, novelties, precision equipment, boxes and crates, but for many of these purposes it is no longer used because of its high price[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit 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[].
Stem cuttings planted at the onset of the rainy season usually show fair survival rates[].
Suckers may develop from the roots[].

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