Common Name:

General Information

Zanthoxylum chalybeum is a deciduous shrub or tree with a rounded but open crown; it can grow from 1.5 - 10 metres tall, The bole can be 15 - 40cm in diameter, with large woody spines to 2cm long[].
A popular traditional medicine in east Africa, the tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a tea, medicine, toothbrush and timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

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

Habitat

Dry bushland and wooded grassland; termite mounds; well drained slopes, where it is locally common; riverine forest; bushland at elevations from sea level to around 1,560 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,600 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 24°c, but can tolerate 12 - 32°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 800 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 750 - 1,500mm, growing in areas where there is a distinct dry season[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[]. The leaves are dried, pounded and sieved. The vegetable powder is soaked in hot water and stirred into a thick vegetable paste, which may be mixed with groundnut paste and eaten
with a staple food such as ugali[].

The dried leaves are brewed to make an aromatic tea[, ].

Medicinal

This is a well known plant in traditional medicine in Africa. In Somalia the leaves have been reported to be used against stomach pain and urinary retention[].

Bark extracts are said to cure malaria[].
A decoction of the bark and roots is used as a remedy for malaria, generalized body pains, coughs, scorpion bites, snakebites, oedema, anaemia, and body swellings[]. It is also used as a gargle for treating toothache[].
The bark and root powder is mixed with oil and applied as a liniment for treating pains and sprains[].

Other Uses

The twigs are used as toothbrushes[, ].

The wood is very hard, heavy, elastic and highly durable. It works well, although it is difficult to nail; finishes and polishes well. It has been used for carving, turnery, building poles, bedsteads, spoons, stools, drums, walking sticks etc[, ].
The wood makes a good fuel, burning easily[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[].

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