Common Name: Manduro

General Information

Manduro is a deciduous or semi-deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall, though sometimes it is no more than a shrub[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its various uses and is occasionally grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern tropical Africa - Kenya south to Swaziland and the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa

Habitat

In forests, in open woodland, along rivers, near springs, and in pans[]. Dry open woodland, frequently along rivers, near springs and around pans, sometimes on seasonally waterlogged floodplains, typically on sandy- or clay-loam[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the tropical areas of eastern Africa[].

Growth of the tree follows the growth model of Champagnat: a shoot lengthens due to the activity of an apical bud. Initial growth is upright, but soon the shoot becomes drooping or pendulous under its own weight. A lateral bud then resumes upright growth and the pattern of growth and curvature repeats itself[].
Manduro has been considered poorly suited to commercial exploitation, due to the difficulty of removing the kernel from the pulp and thick, fibrous shell. Modern processing methods may, however, overcome these drawbacks. Given the similarities of its fruits to those of the related Balanites aegyptiaca, which yield several natural products, Balanites maughamii probably has similar commercial potential, warranting further investigation[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible. The fruits have a pleasant sweet scent and taste, but later become bitter[]. The fruit is 4 - 8cm long, ripening reddish brown, the skin firm but thin, eventually brittle, containing a spongy and fibrous, dark and oily mesocarp[].

The clear, yellow oil obtained from the seed is edible and is used in cooking[]. It is tasteless and odourless[]. The seed is ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, up to 2.5 cm long[].

Medicinal

Manduro is used in magic and traditional medicine[]. The roots have emetic properties[]. Extracts of the leaves and twigs have shown genotoxic effects in vitro, causing DNA damage[]. Stem bark extracts inhibit the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum[].

The roots and bark are widely used in purgative medicines[].

Other Uses

The oil obtained from the seed is used as a massage oil and is suitable for industrial use[]. In some regions the oil or seeds are burnt as torches, hence one common name 'torchwood'[].

The fruits are used to make leg rattles[].

Although the fruit is edible to mammals, the fruit exudate is used in fish poison and is lethal to the freshwater snails and water fleas (Cyclops spp) that are vectors of bilharzia and Guinea worm respectively. Manduro may contribute to the control of these diseases when it occurs near water and it has been planted for this purpose in some areas[].
It is postulated that yamogenin, the steroidal sapogenin to which molluscicidal activity is attributed in Balanites aegyptiaca is present in higher concentrations in this species[]. The kernel and pulp of ripe fruit are toxic to snails at concentrations of 25 mg/ml, and molluscicidal activity is retained in powdered material for up to 122 days[]. The fruits are also toxic to some frogs and fish[].

The tree can yield large straight logs of a valuable hard timber. It is usually pale yellowish brown and finely textured, giving a smooth finish, which takes a high polish[]. It is useful for building poles, tool handles, grain mortars, stools and for carving and turnery; in Swaziland it is used to make wagons[].
The wood produces a good charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best germinated in the ground, as container-reared specimens tend to become chlorotic[].
Root suckers can be used for propagation[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many fingers does the typical human have?