Common Name:

General Information

Shirakiopsis elliptica can be a deciduous, semi-deciduous or evergreen shrub or tree according to habitat, with a thin, open rounded crown[]. It usually grows up to 12 metres tall in the drier parts of its range, but occasionally reaches 20 - 50 metres when growing in damper sites[, , ]. The bole is often fluted, with a poor shape; it can be free of brnches for up to 12 metres and up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its latex and local medicinal use. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental and to provide shade[].
The species has become rare in some places because of incursions into its habitat[].

Known Hazards

The plant is considered to be very poisonous and a very drastic purgative[].
A white slightly gummy latex in the fruits, younger twigs and leaves is very caustic to the skin. It is an ingredient of an arrow-poison and has been suspected of criminal use[].
The bark latex is added to an arrow poison based on Acokanthera schimperi[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Ethiopia, south to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, eastern S. Africa.

Habitat

Mountain rainforests; riverine forest; secondary mountain evergreen bushland; closed lowland forest; coastal forests; wooded ravines - usually in open areas, forest edges, stream banks etc. In Zululand, it occurs as a canopy tree in swamp forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 500 - 2,450 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 27°c, but can tolerate 16 - 33°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,500mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a medium to heavy soil of moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[]. Tolerant of periodic inundation of the soil[].
Plants respond well to coppicing and pollarding[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - a sweet flavour[]. The fruit are commonly eaten by birds and said to be edible in Tanzania and Nigeria[, ]. However, it is recorded as containing the same white latex that is found in the younger growths and is recorded as toxic[]. Human consumption of the fruit merits a cautious approach[, ]. The slightly feshy, purple to black fruit is a two-lobed drupe 8 - 15mm long and 6 - 8mm wide[].

Medicinal

The bark is emetic and purgative. A preparation (from the bark?) is taken as a drastic purge and is known for its toxicity[]. This is also sometimes taken by draught for the treatment of ascites and leprosy[]. A bark decoction is used as a strong enema to treat abdominal pain[]. A stem bark decoction is taken to treat anaemia and persistent headache[]. A root bark decoction or infusion is taken to treat colic[].
A bark infusion is used externally to treat guinea worm, scabies and eczema, whilst a decoction is used as a mouthwash to trreat cases of scurvy and stomatitis[, ].

The leaves are emetic[]. A decoction of the leafy twigs is occasionally taken orally to treat leprosy and ascites, in a similar way as extracts of Excoecaria grahamii[]. A leaf decoction is taken to treat elephantiasis, colic, anaemia and persistent headaches[]. The leaf juice is taken to treat fever, cough and colds[].
A leaf-preparation is used to relieve rheumatic pains and also pains in the head, chest, shoulders and back[, ]. A preparation of dried leaves is applied to maggot-infested wounds. A leaf extract is applied to abdominal swellings and used as eye drops to treat eye diseases[, ].
Externally, a decoction of leafy twigs is used to treat Guinea worm sores[].

The root is laxative. A root-concoction is prepared as a fomentation to treat enlarged spleen in babies and is taken by draught as a remedy for malaria and to mature abscesses[, ]. It is eaten pulped with leaves in water for ridding the body of worms[]. The leaf or root juice is taken to treat fever, cough and colds[]. The root is also used to make a cough medicine, whilst the pulped roots, mixed with water, are held to be a cure for stammering[, ].
The sap of the root is instilled into painful eyes[]. A decoction of roots, or the ash, is applied to rheumatic parts of the body[].

Preliminary tests on whole plants showed the presence of tannins and alkaloids[].
Crude bark extracts showed moderate bactericidal activity in vitro against Campylobacter jejuni[].

Other Uses

A white, slightly gummy latex is present in the younger twigs and leaves. Sticky and caustic, it is used to make a glue and to create body markings[, ].

The wood is pale brown, somewhat coarse and fibrous. It is tough, but is said to be not durable in the ground and liable to borer attack. However, the wood has also been reported to contain silicaceous concretions in the medullary rays and it is possible that the presence of these may confer resistance to marine borers if the timber is used in sea-water[]. The wood is used for making tom-tom drums, in general construction and for purposes where hardness is necessary, such as to make anvils on which bark-cloth is beaten out. The strong stems are used as the main parts in maize storage bins and to make mortars[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - should be sown in situ because the plant is difficult to transplant[].
The seeds can be stored for a long period in a container in a cool and dry room without loss of viability[].

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