Common Name: Red-fruited Stinkwood

General Information

Celtis mildbraedii is an evergreen to deciduous shrub or a tree with a small, rounded crown of thin, horizontal branches; it can grow from 3 - 55 metres tall. The slightly sinuous, cylindrical bole is unbranched for much of its height, it can be 30 - 100cm in diameter with 4 - 5 sharp buttresses 5 metres or more high, 2 metres wide and 10cm thick[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. The wood is of good quality, it is commonly harvested from the wild and exported.
Although sometimes threatened locally, the overall population of Celtis mildbraedii is large due to its wide native range. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust can be irritant[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Sierra Leone through southern Central African Republic to Uganda and Kenya, south to northern Angola, DR Congo, Mozanbique, Madagascar.

Habitat

Uncommon to abundant in semi-deciduous rain forests at elevations from 200 - 1,600 metres[]. Lowland and submontane forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	35.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A fast-growing species when young, on average it gains 100 - 200cm in height a year and, within Ghana, individuals can be up to 3 metres tall after four years of growth[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is anodyne and febrifuge[].

The leaves are anodyne and vermifuge[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is creamy white to light yellow, bordering on light brown; it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually straight, sometimes interlocked; texture moderately fine; fresh cut and rewetted wood has an unpleasant odour. The wood is of moderate weight; fairly hard; of low durability, being susceptible to attacks of fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with both hand and machine tools, though it has a moderate blunting effect on cutting tools so stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide are recommended; straight-grained stock planes well, but a cutting angle of 15° is recommended to avoid tearing in wood with interlocked grain; it finishes and polishes very well; is difficult to nail and screw so pre-boring is recommended to prevent splitting; it glues well. The wood is used for light construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, frames, staircases, furniture, ladders, crates, boxes, match splints, tool handles, spoons, hardboard and particle board[, ].
The wood makes a good fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a nursery seedbed in a sunny position[]. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 28 - 42 days. The seedlings grow away quickly[]..

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