Common Name: Pod Mahogany

General Information

Pod mahogany is a medium to large, deciduous tree with a very spreading, often flat crown. It usual grows 12 - 15 metres tall but with some specimens reaching 35 metres. The bole is often quite short, but can range from 60 - 100cm in diameter, with exceptional specimens to 200cm[].
The tree produces a valuable wood and has been extensively exploited for this. It also provides edible leaves, medicines and beads for local use. It is planted as an ornamental in gardens and parks, where the crown provides good shade, and is also often used in bonsai[, ].
The species has been heavily logged for railway sleepers and is now protected in South Africa[].

Known Hazards

A basic poison has been found in the root of this plant. It has been reported that people have been killed by ingesting the roots[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern and eastern Africa - Angola, DR Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, S. Africa.

Habitat

Low altitude woodland and dry forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects?
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moist areas of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to around 1,800 metres[]. It prefers growing in areas where annual daytime annual temperatures fall within the range 18 - 28°c, but can tolerate 14 - 36°c[]. Plants are sensitive to frost[]. It grows best with a mean annual rainfall around 700 - 1,400 mm, tolerating 400 - 1,700mm, and a distinct dry season[].
Prefers a sunny position, especially as it grows older[]. Prefers a medium to light soil, succeeding in poor sands[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[].
Plants produce a deep taproot[].
The tree is generally slow-growing but can be quite fast on some sites, especially when young, with annual height increases of up to 60cm[, ].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, , ]. Used when young and still purple, they are pounded then cooked with native potashes[, ]. They form a mucilaginous product, known as 'thelele', which is well liked[].

Medicinal

The roots are chewed as an aphrodisiac[]. They are used in the treatment of a range of conditions including gonorrhoea, chest pains, kidney problems, bilharzia, eye problems and snakebites[, ]. Internal use of the plant is possibly unwise, see notes above on toxicity[].

A mixture of the pounded bark, combined with python fat, is applied on eczematous spots of the skin[]. A small piece of bark is applied to an aching tooth[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good shade tree due to its short bole and large leaves. A taprooted plant, but its ability to mix with crops is unclear[392. It is said to have potential for agroforestry in Miombo woodlands[].

Other Uses

The black seeds, and the orange arils surrounding them, are often sold as curios or made into necklaces[, ]. The pods are 15 centimetres long, containing six or more hard, shiny black beans with an orange aril[].

The bark of most species in this genus is a source of tannins[].

Some pores of the wood contain a yellow dyestuff which, under moist conditions, can discolour textiles, paper, or other
cellulosic materials[]. No records have been seen that it has been used as a dye[].

The light red-brown heartwood is clearly demarcated from the pale straw to whitish sapwood[]. The texture is moderate to coarse; the grain straight to interlocked; medium lustre; without characteristic odour or taste[].The wood is hard, heavy, very durable[, , ]. It is rather difficult to saw and machine because of rapid dulling of saw teeth and cutters, but it works well and takes a fine polish[, ]. It is used for heavy construction, flooring, exterior joinery, furniture and carvings[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-treatment is not normally necessary, but scarifying the seed by making a small scratch in the outer black layer of the seed coat can speed up germination[]. The seeds are sown in flat seedling trays with a 5:1
mixture of river sand and compost and kept moist. Germination is usually good, reaching 90% after 28 days. Trees quickly produce a deep taproot and so should be planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small[]. When the seedlings have reached the 2-leaf stage, they are ready for outplanting[]. They must be protected from cold wind for the first 2 seasons[].
Mature and properly dried seeds can be stored in airtight containers at 3°c in a cold store for several years. Seeds 10 years old may germinate, but their viability will have decreased to at most 30%[].

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