Common Name: Zambesi Coffee

General Information

Bauhinia petersiana is a deciduous shrub or tree growing up to 10 metres tall[, ]. Sometimes the plant becomes a semi-climber or climber with tendrils[, ].
The plant is a valuable food source within its native range, especially in times of drought when other foods are in short supply. The seeds are usually a favoured food[]. The plant has been considered a likely candidate for cultivation, especially in arid areas, but to date (2012) little has been done to make this happen[, ]. The plant has very attractive white flowers and is sometimes grown as an ornamental[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - southern DR Congo, Tanzania, southern Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, S. Africa.

Habitat

Open grassland, wooded grassland and woodland, at elevations from 150 - 1,850 metres in east Africa[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	7.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Bauhinia petersiana is a plant of moist to arid areas in the tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,850 metres[]. The plant can tolerate some frost and can be found in areas experiencing as little as 350mm of rain in a year[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained, preferably light, soil.
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. Roasted and eaten like nuts, when they are considered a delicacy[]. The seeds can be harvested whilst immature - the whole green pod is briefly roasted and then the seeds removed and eaten[]. A meal made from the pounded seeds is eaten[]. The seeds can be eaten green, but ripe seeds are usually roasted, peeled, and pounded into a pleasant-tasting, coarse meal[].

The mature seeds are roasted and ground into a powder then used as a substitute for coffee[, ].

Immature seedpods - cooked[]. They can be roasted or boiled[].

Root - roasted[]. The core of the root is rejected and only the outer portion eaten[]. Mainly a famine food, it is seldom eaten at other times[].

An oil is obtained from the seed[]. The principal fatty acids in the seed oil are linoleic acid (45%), oleic acid (26%), palmitic acid (16%) and stearic acid (7%)[].

Medicinal

The leaves are boiled, the steam inhaled and the cooled-down liquid drunk to cure common cough[].
The pounded leaves, mixed with salt, are boiled and the warm liquid is sprinkled on wounds to promote healing[].

An infusion of the roots is used to treat dysmenorrhoea and female infertility[]. A decoction of the macerated roots is drunk as a remedy for diarrhoea[].

The roots and leaves contain tannins[].

Other Uses

The bark fibres are used to make rope[].

A dye is obtained from the roots[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings
Layering

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