Common Name:

General Information

Croton sylvaticus is a semideciduous to evergreen shrub or tree with a dense, spreading crown, that usually grows up to 25 metres tall, but with reports of some trees reaching 40 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use and is sometimes sold in local markets. It is sometimes grown to provide shade in coffee plantations and is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[, , ].
Croton sylvaticus 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(2020)[].

Known Hazards

The bark is used as a fish poison[].
The seeds are poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Liberia to Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Mozambique and S. Africa.

Habitat

Semi-deciduous savannah woodland and secondary forest growth, often on rocky slopes, at elevations up to 1,700 metres in west Africa[, ]. Coastal and inland forests, in scrub, often along streams in S. Africa[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics to the tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,700 metres. Especially when young, the plant is susceptible to damage by frost[].
Succeeds in full sun and in moderate to deep shade[]. Requires a position sheltered from cold winds[].
A fast-growing tree, able to increase in height by 150cm per year[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The wood shavings are used in a medicine for treating elephantiasis[]. It is rubbed on the feet[].

The seeds and the seed-oil are used as strong purgatives[, ].

An infusion of the leaves is used as a purgative[].
A leaf decoction is used as a wash to treat oedema caused by kwashiorkor and tuberculosis[]. The juice of young leaves is used to treat ear infections[]. A leaf poultice is applied externally to treat tuberculosis and pleurisy[, ].

A bark or root decoction is taken to treat tuberculosis, fever, digestive problems and abdominal pain[]. A bark decoction is taken to treat rheumatism, abdominal disorders, dropsy, fever and problems with the uterus[, ]. A stem bark extract is taken to treat malaria[].
The charred, powdered bark is rubbed onto bleeding gums, cuts and inflammations[, ].

The pounded roots are used as poultice on swellings[].

The seed contains an oil composed of palmitic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid; it also contains the rare tiglic acid[].
A glutarimide alkaloid isolated from the stem bark showed moderate toxicity in the brine shrimp test[].
The bark is strongly aromatic, and yields 2.7% tannins[].
Aqueous and methanol extracts of the stem bark showed anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities in vitro[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is sometimes used to provide shade in coffee plantations[].

Other Uses

The wood is very pale in colour, often with small, dark streaks. It is soft and easily workable. A useful timber tree, it is used to make furniture, shelves, beehives, drums, tool handles, poles and fruit boxes[, ].
The wood makes a good fuel, burning well even when green[, ]. It is also used to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a semi-shady position in a nursery seedbed. It germinates in 2 - 3 weeks[]. Pot up the seedlings when they have two true leaves[].

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