Common Name: Broad-Leaved Croton

General Information

Croton macrostachyus is a deciduous tree with a spreading but rounded, open crown. It grows up to 30 metres tall, though is more commonly within the range 6 - 12 metres[, ]. The cylindrical bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is an important traditional medicine in Africa. It is commonly gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine and also provides a useful timber. It is often planted to provide shade in plantations, where it also stabilizes and enriches the soil and provides protection.. An attractive tree, it can be planted in amenity areas where it provides useful shade[].
Croton macrostachyus has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Guinea eastwards to Ethiopia and southwards to Angola Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, Brachystegia woodland and wooded grassland in submontane localities, often on rocky hillsides, in evergreen riverine and gully forest, and swamp forest, also on termitaria at elevations of 825 - 1,830, occ to 2,165 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be grown in the tropics and subtropics at elevations from 200 - 2,000 metres[]. They grow best in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 150 - 1,200mm[].
Succeeds in full sun as well as in moderate shade[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Trees are fairly fast growing on good sites, with annual height increases of up to 150cm, but they grow slowly on drier sites[, ].
The tree has a long taproot and numerous side-roots, which makes it adapted to dry climates[].
The tree responds well to lopping, pollarding and coppicing[].
A dioecious species, with occasional monoecious specimens[]. Generally, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

A vegetable salt is prepared from the ashes of the burnt leaves[, ].

Medicinal

Although somewhat toxic, broad-leaved croton is widely used in traditional African medicine. Most parts of the plant are employed in the treatment of various conditions, but it is especially valued for ridding the body of parasites and toxins, and for dealing with skin problems.
The seeds contain about 19% of an oil which is a slightly viscous, yellow-orange fluid and slightly vesicant. The seeds also contain several saponins and a resin, which is said to be more toxic to insects than rotenone[].
The stem bark and twigs contain lupeol, betulin and several fatty acids[].
The fruits contain crotepoxide, which inhibits certain tumours in animal models. Crotepoxide also shows moderate trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma evansii[].
A hexane extract of the leaves has shown antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro[].
Root and stem bark extracts showed low antibacterial activities[].

The juice from the leaves is used as an anthelmintic[, ]. The leaves or young shoots are eaten to treat fever and oedema[]. A boiled leaf decoction is drunk, or the ashes taken orally, as a treatment for cough[]. A decoction of the young leafy shoots, combined with Justicia schimperiana, pepper, butter and milk, is used in the treatment of jaundice, and for an eruptive disease resembling small-pox[].
Juice from the fresh leaves is applied on wounds to hasten clotting, and is also used to treat sores, warts and ringworm[, ]. An extract of leaves is used against itchy scalp[]. The mashed leaves are used as a poultice to treat haemorrhoids[].

A powder made from the leaves and twig bark is eaten to calm insanity and possession[].

Root decoction is used as an anthelmintic for tapeworm, as a purgative, and for the treatment of malaria and venereal diseases[, ].

The bark is abortifacient and uterotonic[]. A maceration is taken to expel a retained placenta[]. The bark is an ingredient of an effective purgative and vermifuge[].
Bark from the stems and roots is boiled in water and newly born babies are bathed in the mixture as a remedy for skin rash[].

The oil obtained from the seeds is vesicant and powerfully purgative[, ]. The seed is eaten to procure an abortion[, ].
A preparation of the seed is instilled into the ear as a remedy for ear-troubles[, ].

The crushed leaves and seed admixed are drunk in water as a remedy for tapeworm[].

The fruit is eaten, and a root-decoction drunk, as a remedy for venereal disease[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Due to its drought hardiness and fast growth, the tree is considered useful for reforestation of shifting sand dunes, degraded waste land, hill slopes, ravines and lateritic soils[]. It is also grown as a hedge plant and is suitable for intercropping[].
The tree is used to provide shade in villages and in coffee plantations[].
It is employed in soil conservation[]. The leaf fall provides mulch and green manure[].
The flowers are heavily scented and are unusually attractive to bees[].

Other Uses

The seeds contain about 19% oil, which is a slightly viscous, yellow-orange fluid and slightly vesicant. It is used medicinally[].

The plant (part not specified) is used as a detergent for washing jars and pots[].

The cream-coloured wood is of medium weight, moderately soft, perishable and susceptible to attack by wood borers. It is difficult to saw. It is used for carpentry, heavy-duty flooring, poles, boxes, crates and tool handles[, , ].
The wood is mainly used for fuel and the production of charcoal. It burns well, even when green, but with a rather unpleasant spicy odour[, ].

Propagation

Seed - pre-sowing treatment is not necessary. Direct sowing is the preferred method. Under ideal conditions, seeds germinate within 30 - 60 days, with an expected germination rate of healthy, mature seedlots being about 40-70%[, ].
The fruits are sun dried to release seeds and can be stored for some months if kept cool, dry and free from insects. Seeds can be stored for at least 2 years when dried to below 8% mc and stored cool (20 deg. C or less)[].

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