Common Name: Tree Wisteria

General Information

Bolusanthus speciosus 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[].
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[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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[, ].
A moderately fast-growing species, with good care it can grow up to 800mm per year[].
Under optimal conditions, the tree commences flowering when 5 - 7 years old from seed[].
The plant has a non-invasive root system[].
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

None known

Medicinal

The dried inner bark is used to treat and relieve abdominal disorders[, ]. It is used to treat abdominal cramps[]/

Boiled root decoctions are taken orally to treat stomach problems[, ]. 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[].
Flavonoids from the root wood also have shown antioxidant properties[].

Other Uses

Saponins with molluscicidal activity have also been isolated from the plant[].

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[]. 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[]. It works well on a lathe, turning out beautiful lampshades and other articles[]. The straight growing stems are very hard, termite resistant and used for fencing posts[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak overnight, pouring hot water over the seeds and allowing them to cool, but making sure not to cook them[]. 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[].

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