Common Name:

General Information

Brachystegia taxifolia is a semideciduous shrub or tree with a dense crown that can be flat, obconical or umbrella-shaped. It grows from 1 - 16 metres tall, more commonly from 2 - 6 metres. The bole is branched or irregular 40 - 100cm in diameter[, ]. The tree appears to be evergreen because the new leaves appear as the old ones fall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild as a local source of charcoal and fibre.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - southern DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi.

Habitat

Locally dominant, esp. on wetland margins, hill slopes, river banks, rocky plateau areas; common in sandy and poor stony leached soils, esp. at high elevations and high rainfall areas. Also an undershrub in mixed open woodlands; 1,000 - 1,800 m[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Its bark is a source of fibre. It is used as tying material, for instance in hut construction[].

The wood is not durable, but it makes good charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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