Common Name:

General Information

Uvaria chamae is a climbing shrub or small tree growing up to 4 metres tall[].
The tree is used locally, being harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, medicinal and other uses. The root bark is sometimes sold in local markets, mainly for medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa in a belt from Senegal to the Central African Republic.

Habitat

Fringing forest in savannah[]. Savannah and secondary forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The flowers are sweetly scented[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are yellow when ripe and have a sweet pulp which is widely eaten[]. The fruit carpels are in finger-like clusters, the shape giving rise to many vernacular names translated as ‘bush banana’ or the like implying wildness[].

Root bark - cooked[]. It is made into a soup which is believed to increase milk production in nursing mothers[].

Medicinal

The root and root-bark have a widespread reputation in traditional medicine in Africa.
The plant has been shown to contain several medically active compounds - the root bark yields an oleo-resin; alkaloids are present in small amount in the roots; tannins have been recorded as present but saponins have been recorded as absent[].

The root bark is antiinflammatory, astringent, febrifuge, galactagogue and styptic[, ]. It is taken internally in the treatment of catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes; bronchitis and gonorrhoea. It is also used in the treatment of dysentery; as a specific treatment for piles; epistaxis, haematuria, haematemesis and haemoptysis[]. It is mixed with Guinea grains (Piper guinense) then added to food as a useful treatment for menorrhagia[]. It is boiled with spices and the decoction drunk in the treatment of fevers that are classed locally as 'yellow-fever', including almost any indisposition that is accompanied by jaundice[].

The root is said to be febrifuge, purgative, stomachic and vermifuge[]. It is boiled with spices and the decoction drunk in the treatment of fevers that are classed locally as 'yellow-fever', including almost any indisposition that is accompanied by jaundice[]. The root is also considered to be a 'woman’s medicine' and is used to treat amenorrhoea, to prevent miscarriage; and to relieve the pains of childbirth[]. The root is made into a drink and is also used as a body-wash for treating oedematous conditions[].
Severe abdominal pain is treated by a root-infusion combined with native pepper in gin; whilst the root combined with Guinea grains (probably Piper guinense) is used in an application to the fontanelle for cerebral diseases[].
The roots are used externally for healing sores[]. The sap from the root and stem is applied to wounds[].
The crushed root, combined with Capsicum or other rubefacient substances, is rubbed on as a local counter-irritant[].

The leaves and roots are macerated together for internal use as a cough mixture, and when mixed with those of Annona senegalensis, then dried and pulverized, are considered strong medicine for renal and costal pain[].

The sap of the leaves, roots and stems is widely used on wounds and sores and is said to promote rapid healing[].

A leaf-infusion is used as an eyewash and a leaf-decoction as a febrifuge[].

The crushed seeds, combined with those of Piper guinense, are rubbed on the body (the reason is not given[][].

Other Uses

All parts of the plant are fragrant. The plant is used to make a pomade[].

An oleoresin is obtained from the root bark[].

The greyish-brown wood is fairly heavy[]. It is used for making oars[].

Propagation

Seed -

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