Common Name:

General Information

Casearia battiscombei is an evergreen tree with a vertical crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The bole is generally straight, sometimes fluted, 30 - 45cm in diameter, exceptionally to 90cm, with buttresses up yo 180cm high. Sometimes the plant is no more than a shrub with branches horizontally in tiers, or straggling[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also traded. It is planted for amenity and to provide shade[].

Known Hazards

Sawdust from the wood can be irritating to mucous membranes[].
The fruit is a capsute containing several seeds. Although the capsule of some species (and possibly also the seeds contained therein) is somewhat toxic, the fleshy aril surrounding the seeds is a different matter and in some species (see information below on edibility to see if this is one of them) is often eaten and is considered to be perfectly wholesome[, ].

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Uganda, Kenya, southern Somalia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Rain-forest; remnants of evergreen forest; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,440 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The fruit is a capsule containing a number of seeds that are surrounded by a fleshy aril[]. We have no specific reports of edibility for this species, but the aril of several species in this genus are known to be edible and, unless it is very bitter, in an emergency the aril of this species is likely to supply a tiny bit of nutriment[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is limited to a narrow dark-brown core; most of the wood is sapwood, which is whitish to pale yellow-brown with red streaks. The texture is fine and even; the grain straight; it has an unpleasant odour when freshly sawn, though this disappears upon drying. The wood is soft and brittle; it is not very durable, being vulnerable to attack by decay fungi and termites, and liable to blue stain. It air dries moderately slowly with some tendency to warp. It works easily with machine and hand tools; dresses to a smooth surface; is easy to nail. The wood is used for purposes such as boxes and crates, interior joinery, furniture components and carving[, ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

The seed of species in this genus often has a short period of viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seed is collected when the fruits start to open - leave them in the sun to open completely to release the seed, then rinse the seed in water to remove the arils[]. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed, only just covering the seed, and keep moist. Germination rates vary, but can usually be expected to be low, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[]. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out a few months later[].
Cuttings.

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