Common Name:

General Information

Cordyla africana is a deciduous tree with a large, spreading rounded crown; it can grow 9 - 30 metres tall. The straight bole can be free of branches for up to 15 metres, up to 90cm in diameter, and without buttresses[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its edible fruit and timber. It is sometimes planted for shade and along the sides of avenues[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East Africa - southern Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Riverine vegetation and in forests with a high ground watertable, swamp forests, at low altitudes in hot dry areas from sea level to about 900 metres[]. Commonly found with Acacia albida on light fertile alluvium generally suitable for maize[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	18.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The fruits are sometimes cooked, with the pulp being eaten and the seeds discarded[]. An unpleasant smell, they are only eaten by old people except in times of hunger[]. A rich source of vitamin C[]. The yellow, oblong to spherical pods are about 6cm long containing three flat seeds in a sticky, fleshy pulp that smells like beans[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A gum resin exudes from the bark and is used mixed with water to make a kind of size or whitewash for houses[].

The heartwood is a yellowish-brown with darker bands; it is moderately distinct from the 5 - 8cm wide band of pale yellow sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain wavy or interlocked, showing an attractive stripe figure; cut surfaces are somewhat oily. The wood is hard; it is very durable and resistant to termite attack. It dries rapidly, with some tendency to check but with little warp. It is moderately easy to work with machine tools; shapes cleanly except where the grain is irregular; drills and mortises well; is difficult to work with hand tools; does not dress smoothly in turnings. It is used for purposes such as general heavy construction, railroad crossties, bridge timber, wooden spoons, drums and stools[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - germinates easily when fresh[].

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