Bolusanthus speciosus
(Bolus) Harms
Fabaceae
Lonchocarpus speciosus Bolus
Common Name: Tree Wisteria
Tree growing in wooded savannah
Photograph by: Ian Sutton
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Tree growing in wooded savannah
Photograph by: Ian Sutton
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Flowering branch
Photograph by: Ian Sutton
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Close-up of a flower
Photograph by: Ian Sutton
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
General Information
Tree wisteria is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree or shrub with a narrow, upright crown. It has one or more straight trunks, usually growing 4 - 10 metres tall, but exceptionally to 18 metres[
]. The bole or boles are usually straight, often branching from low down, and up to 40cm in diameter, though occasional specimens to 100cm are found[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and as a source of a good quality timber. It makes an excellent garden ornamental, although the flowering period is very brief[
]. It is a very ornamental tree with drooping, blue-mauve, fragrant, pea-like flowers that hang from the branches in bunches, often covering the whole tree[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
Range
Southern Africa - Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.
Habitat
Savannah, in wooded grassland, at low to medium elevations, usually growing singly or in groups[
]. It prefers open savannah woodland and very seldom occurs in thickets[
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Deciduous Tree |
Height | 8.00 m |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of tropical and subtropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 27°c, but can tolerate 14 - 34°c[
]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -5°c or lower, but young growth can be severely damaged at 2°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 650mm, but tolerates 100 - 1,000mm[
].
Requires a sunny position[
]. Found in the wild in a variety of soil types but prefers fertile, heavier alkaline soils[
]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, tolerating 6 - 8.5[
]. Established plants are drought tolerant[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
,
].
A moderately fast-growing species, with good care it can grow up to 800mm per year[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Under optimal conditions, the tree commences flowering when 5 - 7 years old from seed[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant has a non-invasive root system[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
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[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The dried inner bark is used to treat and relieve abdominal disorders[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
]. It is used to treat abdominal cramps[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]/
Boiled root decoctions are taken orally to treat stomach problems[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
]. An infusion from the root is used as an emetic[
].
Flavonoids (several pterocarpans and many isoflavonoids) with antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Candida mycoderma, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Staphylococcus aureus have been isolated from the root and stem bark and the root wood[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Flavonoids from the root wood also have shown antioxidant properties[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
Saponins with molluscicidal activity have also been isolated from the plant[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The heartwood is reddish brown, often streaked, and distinctly demarcated from the narrow, whitish yellow sapwood, that becomes grey-brown in the course of time. The wood is heavy, hard, it turns well, is durable, and resistant to termites and pinhole borers[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The timber and has a variety of uses although the planks are rather small. It is excellent for general purposes such as furniture, household articles, tool handles and veneer[
]. The wood makes excellent furniture and is highly sought after by carpenters[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. It works well on a lathe, turning out beautiful lampshades and other articles[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. The straight growing stems are very hard, termite resistant and used for fencing posts[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Propagation
Seed - pre-soak overnight, pouring hot water over the seeds and allowing them to cool, but making sure not to cook them[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. Sow the seeds in containers filled with river sand, covering lightly with finer sand. Remember that the sowing depth should not be deeper than the diameter of the seed. The seeds germinate quickly and can be transplanted after the second leaf has emerged[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
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