Common Name:

General Information

Chidlowia sanguinea is a deciduous tree, usually growing up to 25 metres tall, occasionally to 30 metres. The bole, which is often twisted, crooked, fluted and low-branching, is up to 80cm in diameter, occasionally to 100cm[]. It has many adventitious stems and occasionally has steep buttresses[].
The tree possibly has edible seeds and a wood that is occasionally used locally. It is sometimes harvested from the wild.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire.

Habitat

Evergreen and moist semideciduous forest, where it can be dominant[, ]. It is usually found in the middle storey of primary forest, but occasionally also in secondary forest and gallery forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	?Birds
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The boles of large trees are often hollow, which diminishes the commercial value and may cause danger during felling[].
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

The seeds are reportedly eaten[].

Medicinal

The leaves contain the alkaloid chidlowine - this has been shown to have hypotensive and antienaemic properties[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark greenish grey with a bronze tinge to dark brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the narrow band of yellowish white to pale greyish brown sapwood. The grain is interlocked; texture moderately fine and even; radial surfaces show a ribbon figure. The wood is moderately heavy and hard. It is difficult to saw due to its hardness and the presence of interlocked grain; it is liable to splitting upon nailing. The wood is used locally for joinery, stakes and rifle butts. It is suitable for heavy construction and probably occasionally used in building local houses, and is also suitable for sliced veneer[].

Propagation

Seed -

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