This species is closely related to Entada phaseoloides, and has often been confused with that species in the literature. The uses of the two species are probably virtually identical[].

Common Name:

General Information

Entada rheedii is a large and very vigorous climbing shrub, producing stems that can be 120 metres long and up to 40cm in diameter near the base. These stems twine around other plants for support, often scrambling through the canopy from one tree to another. The plant has very large seedpods that can be up to 200cm long and 15cm wide[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

This species may be poisonous as it contains various saponins particularly in the bark, root and seeds[].
The bark has been used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Senegal to Uganda and Kenya, south to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and S. Africa; E. Asia - Indian subcontinent, through southeast Asia to Australia.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forest, especially along rivers, inland from the mangrove and in beach forest, usually at elevations up to 400 metres, occasionally to 900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	100.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[]. Poisonous when raw because they contain saponins, the seeds were traditionally thoroughly cooked (which should destroy the saponins[K) and leached before being eaten[]. The seeds are roasted and then soaked for three days before being eaten[].

Medicinal

The bark, which contains saponins, is used as a treatment against pains, itch and perhaps fever[].

The seeds, which contains saponins, are used as a treatment against pains, itch and perhaps fever[]. A poultice made from the seed is used to cure colic in children[].

The leaves are dried and smoked to induce vivid dreams[].

Other Uses

The bark and seeds are rich sources of saponins which are used as a soap for cleaning clothes, washing the hair and skin etc[, , ].

An oil obtained from the seeds is used as an illuminant in lamps[].

The large seeds are used as beads[]. The smooth shining seeds are used for games[].
The seeds are used to polish various artefacts by rubbing[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Cuttings root easily[].

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