Common Name: Worm-Cure Albizia

General Information

Albizia anthelmintica is a thorny/spiny, deciduous, multi-stemmed, medium canopied tree growing to about 8 metres in height[]
The tree is often harvested from the wild for its range of uses. It is an attractive tree in bloom, with fluffy-cream coloured, scented flowers and is suitable for ornamental purposes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - from Namibia and S. Africa north through eastern Africa to Kenya and Somalia.

Habitat

Commonly occurs in deciduous or evergreen bushland and scrubland especially along seasonal rivers and on termite-mound clump thickets[]. In the drier types of woodland, also in wooded grassland, thickets and bushland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of semi-arid areas of Africa, it is found growing at an elevation of 400 - 1,500 metres[]. It succeeds in areas with a mean annual temperature up to 40°c and a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 1,000mm[].
Prefers clayey soils but is also known to perform well in deep, loose red sand soils[]. Requires a sunny position[]. The tree is susceptible to wind damage but can withstand frost and drought[].
The species is becoming rare in the wild due to over-utilisation[].
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

The roots are commonly used as additive in soups[].

Medicinal

The stem bark is widely used as a purgative and anthelmintic[, ]. A preparation of the bark and shoots is effective against internal parasites, especially tapeworm[].

In Somalia, the tree is said to provide a cure for gonorrhoea, the roots are cooked in chicken broth[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This tree is known to root deeply and has an important role in soil protection[]. A deep rooting plant, it has good intercropping potential[].

Other Uses

Tri- and tetra-saccharides from the plant, having triterpene prosthetic groups, possess potent molluscicidal activity[].

The bark is rich in saponins[]. It is used to coagulate milks[].

The twigs are used as toothbrushes for oral hygiene[].

The heartwood is an attractive, light red-brown colour[]. The wood used for poles, posts, furniture, implement handles, spoons, carvings and turnery[, ].

Propagation

Seed - requires no pre-treatment and can be planted directly into pots at a rate of two seeds per pot[]. Germination occurs 3 - 4 days after planting with a success rate of up to 90%[]. This moderately fast growing tree with strong light requirements can be sown directly in sunlight. With this method seedlings for transplanting are ready in 60 days[].

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