Common Name:

General Information

Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia is a deciduous, very variable plant. Sometimes a many-stemmed shrub, it more commonly becomes a tree with a crown that can be compact and rounded, or lax with drooping branches that can reach down almost to the ground; it usually grows from 3 - 10 metres tall, though specimens up to 18 metres have been recorded. The straight bole can be unbranched for up to 3.5 metres and up to 25cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of wood. It is often grown as an ornamental, shade-providing tree, valued especially for the red of its foliage before the leaves fall from the tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - east DR Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Mixed deciduous woodland, wooded grassland and riverine vegetation, commonly along the edges of drainage systems; usually on sandy soils, but also on rocky outcrops and disturbed soils near cultivation, at elevations from 200 - 1,600 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees, Wasps
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best on soils of light texture[].
A fairly slow-growing tree[].
Mature trees are moderately resistant to fires[].
Plants can be pruned back severely and respond well to coppicing[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible[]. The yellowish green, yellow or pinkish green fruit is an ovoid to rounded drupe-like capsule 15 - 20mm long containing 3 - 7 seeds[, ].

Medicinal

A root decoction is taken as a purgative to treat stomach-ache and abdominal problems[]. The smoke of burning roots is inhaled to treat pneumonia[]. A root infusion is taken to treat abdominal pain, gonorrhoea and female sterility[]. An infusion of the roots, mixed with those of Lannea schimperi, kamwamadzi, mbundaculu, and sometimes with flour, is drunk as a cure for diorrhoea or dysentery[].
The pulp of peeled roots is applied to leprous sores[]. Dried, pulverized root is sniffed to treat nosebleed and headache. It is sprinkled on fresh wounds to heal them[].

In Tanzaniathe roots and bark mixed with poisonous insects are burned and the ashes applied to incisions as a cure for tumours[].

The pulverized bark mixed in porridge is taken to treat pneumonia, tuberculosis and aenemia. A bark extract is drunk or dried powdered root mixed in porridge is taken to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and as an aphrodisiac[]. A bark infusion is taken to treat dizziness and vomiting[].

The leaves pounded together with leaves, bark and roots of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in water are used as ear drops to treat earache[, ]. The leaves are boiled and the strained liquid is rubbed into incisions on the side to treat pain in the side. A leaf decoction is taken to treat cough and fever[].

Other Uses

The fruits are used to dye bark cloth[].

The wood is moderately heavy, with an even texture. It is used to make toys, joinery, turnery and handicrafts[].
The woodis used as firewood and to make charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed. The seed naturally passes through the gut of a creature before germinating and does not germinate so well if it has not had this treatment. An alternative way of improving the germination rate is 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 before sowing them[, , ].
Seeds can be stored for later use.

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