Common Name:

General Information

Vepris nobilis is an evergreen shrub or, more commonly, a tree usually growing from 2 - 12 metres tall, occasionally to 18 metres, and even taller when growing in the rain-forest[, ]. The bole, which is often crooked, can be free of branches for up to 7.5 metres and is up to 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, source of wood and tooth cleaners. The wood is also used commercially. The tree is planted as an avenue tree and to provide shade[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, south to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Habitat

Evergreen (dry) forest, thickets on rocky hills; wooded grassland; riverine formations; rain-forest; lake shores at elevations from 900 - 2,700 metres, descending to lower elevations in the south of its range[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Vepris nobilis is a plant of the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations from 900 - 2,600 metres. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 1,200 - 2,500mm, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 18 - 26°c[].

A slow to moderate-growing species[].
Trees respond well to pollarding and coppicing[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[, ]. The orange-red fruit is an obovoid drupe 6 - 8mm × 5 - 6mm[].

Medicinal

The roots are used in the treatment of pneumonia and venereal diseases[].

The leaves are used in a vapour bath to treat fever[].

Leaf and root decoctions are drunk to treat pneumonia, rheumatism and itching[].

The roots are used as an anthelmintic and for treatment of pneumonia[].
The pounded root bark is applied to syphilitic ulcers[].

The stem bark is expectorant[].

The bark and leaves are used as an analgesic[].

The triterpenoid lupeol has been isolated as the main active compound in the plant. Several quinoline alkaloids have also been isolated from the leaves, as well as axane and oppositane sesquiterpenes[].
Trials have shown that leaf extracts have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities, without toxic effects[]..

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is occasionally planted for improving the soil by its leaf litter, and as a shade and amenity tree[].

Other Uses

Roots and twigs are used as toothbrushes.

The heartwood is creamy white, often with a dark brown core; rather indistinctly demarcated from the slightly paler sapwood[]. The grain is usually straight, texture fine and even[]. The wood is fairly heavy, hard, tough and moderately durable - being fairly resistant to termites, but liable to Lyctus and marine borer attacks[]. Rather difficult to saw and work, but it can be finished to a smooth surface. The polishing and varnishing properties are satisfactory, but the nailing properties are poor; pre-boring is necessary in nailing. Steam bending gives good results. The fresh wood often has an unpleasant smell[]. Excellent for turning and inlay work, the wood is also suitable for heavy construction, flooring, joinery, shipbuilding, vehicle bodies, furniture, cabinet work, mine props, sporting goods, agricultural implements, toys, novelties and vats[]. It is used traditionally to make tool handles, spoons, building poles, bows and walking sticks[].
The wood is a good fuel and is used for making charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability of only a few months[]. Pre-treatment of the seed is not necessary before sowing, but the germination rate, even of fresh seed, is generally low[]. Wildlings are sometimes used for propagation[].

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