The generic name is often spelled Cluytia in older publications[].

Common Name:

General Information

Clutia abyssinica is a very variable plant. It can range in habit from an erect, large woody herb or shrub growing 1 - 4 metres tall, or can become a tree up to 8 metres tall[]. The stems are brittle[].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, there are reports that several species in this genus are highly toxic to grazing animals[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - Sudan to Somalia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and S. Africa.

Habitat

Forest edges, associated bushland and wooded grassland; secondary associations; lakeside, riverine, evergreen thickets; bamboo and near arborescent Ericaceae formations; gallery forest; at elevations from 700 - 3,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The roots are boiled with food to add flavour to it[].

Medicinal

The roots and leaves are commonly used for medicinal purposes within the plant's native range. Research has shown the presence of a range of compounds in the plant - for example the roots contain a phytosterol glucoside and several bicyclic diterpenoids[].
Ethanolic leaf, stem and root extracts have shown moderate antiviral activity in vitro against polio virus and Coxsackie virus; moderate antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium culmorum; but little antibacterial activity[].
An ethanol extract of the dry leaves showed antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes[].

The roots are used to treat a wide range of ailments, usually in the form of a decoction. Conditions treated include chest complaints such as influenza, coughs and colds; fevers, including malaria; liver problems, stomach aches and indigestion; headaches; intestinal worms; whilst it is also taken as a tonic by pregnant women[]. The boiled roots are made into a soup which is taken as a remedy for enlarged spleen and kidney problems. The ground roots are applied as an enema to treat gonorrhoea[].
A decoction of the root is rubbed on the head to relieve a headache[].

The root bark is laxative. A maceration is drunk to treat abdominal problems, and to expel intestinal worms[].

The leaves are used in various ways, as a powder, infusion or a decoction for example. They have a stimulant effect on the uterus and so are used to induce the process of childbirth, or to induce an abortion. They are also taken to treat sciatic pain, coughs, whooping cough and headaches. A strong decoction is taken to treat shock[]. When diluted in water, the sap is applied as an enema to treat diarrhoea in children, whilst a vapour bath of the leaves is used to treat malaria[].
Applied externally, the leaf powder is mixed with palm oil and applied as a healing salve on burns[]. A maceration of the crushed leaves is used as nose drops to treat pneumonia; the fresh leaves are rubbed on the gums to treat toothache and on the skin to treat fungal problems[].

The sap of leafy twigs is drunk to treat chest pain, side pain and shortness of breath. An infusion of the leafy twigs, or the leaves, is drunk or the ash eaten to treat skin problems, elephantiasis, diarrhoea and tachycardia[]. This infusion can also be used as a wash to treat these ailments[].

The wood is smoked by women to treat menstrual pains[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The presence of the plant is often an indicator of an old forest area[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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