Common Name: St. Thomas Tree

General Information

Bauhinia tomentosa is usually a rambling, many-stemmed shrub or small tree growing 4 - 8 metres tall[]. The branches are often drooping, with many slender twigs[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a source of food, medicines and dye. It is also sometimes grown as a hedge and as an ornamental plant. Since the root system is not aggressive, it can be planted close to swimming pools, drains or paving[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, S. Africa; Yemen; India.

Habitat

Low-altitude woodland, often forming part of the riverine thickets, forest edges, bushland and the coastal dune bush at elevations up to 1,520 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Butterflies, Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of fairly dry areas in the tropics and subtropics. Plants can withstand light frost[].
Succeeds in full sun or light shade[]. Prefers a fertile, well-drained but moisture-retentive soil[]. Established plans are somewhat drought tolerant[].
Young plants are fast-growing, able to increase in height by up yo 90cm a year[].
Plants flower in their second year and are usually very floriferous, bearing flowers during most months of the year in tropical areas[].
Flowering can be stimulated by pruning the plants once a year during the dormant season[].
When planting in dry areas, it is advisable to obtain seeds from plants growing in dry areas[].
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

Young leaves - cooked[]. An acid flavour, they can be eaten as a vegetable with rice, added to soups, or used as a flavouring with other foods[].

Seeds[].

Medicinal

The root bark is vermifuge[, ]. It is used internally to treat conditions of the large intestine[, ].
An infusion of the root bark is used as an external application to treat inflamed glands, abscesses and skin conditions[, ],.
The stem bark is astringent. It is used as a gargle for the mouth[, ].

The flowers are used as a remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea[, ].

The fruit is said to be diuretic[, ].
An infusion of the rind is used as an astringent gargle[, ].

The seed is eaten as a tonic and aphrodisiac[, ].
A paste of the seed made with vinegar is used as a local application to the wounds produced by venomous animals[].

The leaves are an ingredient in a plaster applied to abscesses[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant makes a good hedge[, ].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[, ].

A fibre obtained from the bark can be used to make baskets[, ].

The heartwood is almost black; the sapwood pale pink. The wood is fine-grained, heavy, hard and strong. It finishes with a medium to high lustre[]. The wood is used to make rafters for traditional huts[].

Propagation

Seed -

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