Common Name:

General Information

Trichilia prieuriana is an evergreen shrub or tree with a dense, hemispherical crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall, occasionally to 40 metres[]. The bole can be branchless for up to 21 metres, though usually much less; it is often crooked or sinuous; usually conspicuously fluted, up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
A multipurpose tree, it is harvested from the wild as a local source of food, medicines and various commodities.

Known Hazards

The wood dust may cause irritation to the respiratory tracts in wood workers[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal east to south-western Ethiopia, Uganda and western Tanzania, and south to northern Angola and Zambia.

Habitat

Usually an understorey tree in lowland forest, riverine forest and savannah forest at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in dappled shade[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Natural regeneration appears to be poor, perhaps owing to the fact that the seeds decay very rapidly when lying in the ground[].

Edible Uses

The fleshy seed coat is edible[].

Medicinal

The bark is used to treat venereal diseases, fever, cough, constipation, poisoning and ascites, and as an aphrodisiac.
A decoction of the bark is applied externally to treat pain caused by lumbago and rheumatism. Powder made from burned bark is applied to scarification wounds[].

A leaf decoction is drunk against anaemia and is applied as a bath against syphilis, whereas pulverized leaves are taken to treat stomach spasms[].

The leaves, bark and roots are applied against arthritis[].
A decoction of various plant parts is applied as a wash to treat leprosy and wounds[].
The root and pounded leaves are used in preparations to treat gonorrhoea[].
The root and bark are administered as an enema to treat piles[]

A decoction of leafy twigs is taken to treat bronchitis and oedema[].

The pulverized roots are taken as a treatment against ascariasis and as a purgative[].

The seed is one of the ingredients of a preparation to treat goitre[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A slow-growing tree, it protects the soil from erosion and its leaf-fall helps to improve the soil[].
The tree has been used to provide shade and support for vanilla plants[].
In the dry season the dew condenses very readily on this tree, and thus makes the ground very moist underneath[].

Other Uses

The twigs are used as chew-sticks to clean the teeth and maintain oral health[].

The heartwood is pale pinkish brown to reddish brown; distinctly demarcated from the creamy white to pale yellow sapwood[, ]. The grain is wavy or straight; the texture fine. The wood is hard, moderately heavy; moderately durable; it is susceptible to Lyctus attack[, ]. The wood is difficult to saw because of the presence of silica, which causes blunting of saw teeth and cutting edges; it planes satisfactorily, giving nice quarter-sawn surfaces; it polishes well; the nailing properties are good[]. The wood is used for the construction of local houses, tool handles and spoons. It is suitable for heavy and light construction, railway sleepers, heavy and light flooring, joinery, interior trim, furniture, cabinet work, sporting goods, toys, novelties, veneer, plywood, hardboard and particle board[].
The wood is used as firewood and also for charcoal production; it burns slowly with great heat[, ].

Propagation

Seeds germinate 8 - 15 days after sowing[].

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