Common Name:

General Information

Excoecaria grahamii is a semi-woody herb growing to about 1 metre tall from a deeply buried, creeping woody root-stock[]. Stems are produced at intervals of around 20 - 25cm from the rootstock[].
A very poisonous plant, it is used in traditional medicine and is also used to tattoo the body.

Known Hazards

The whole plant is very poisonous[].
The root is sometimes an ingredient of an arrow-poison intended for hunting, but probably not for warlike activity[].
The plant is added as bait to kill pestilential wild animals. It is said to be immediately fatal to pigs[]. It has been used by the Hausa with criminal intent in food[].
The plant extract is very dangerous to the eyes[].
The plant is so toxic that local people recommend the precaution of washing the hands even after only touching the plant[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Guinea to Benin.

Habitat

Savannah and fringing forests[]. Cultivations on deep soil; road sides; low ground; clayey sand; savannah; damp sandy area; fringing forests[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root-latex is vesicant and powerfully caustic[].
Some drops of the latex are applied to the blister of guinea-worm sores in order to assist extraction of the parasite[].

A decoction of the leaves is taken to induce an abortion[].
The extract of the pounded leaves is applied to guinea-worm sores to assist extraction of the parasite[].

A decoction of the whole plant is taken internally to treat diseases such as leprosy, ascites, etc that require drastic purging[].
A decoction of the whole plant is used in baths for the treatment of skin-affections[].

The smoke of burnt and ground fresh roots, combined with those of Gnidia kraussiana, is inhaled to treat hallucinations[].

Other Uses

All parts of the plant contain a viscid latex which can be drawn out into threads[].
The root-latex is powerfully caustic. It is ground up with a little water then applied with a stick to produce red or black marks on the face, causing swelling and ultimately tattoo marks[]. Sometimes it is used for ritual scarifications.
In some districts the leaf is crushed with a little water which is applied to women’s faces to make red or orange marks. In other places the more powerful root-latex is used[].

Propagation

Seed -

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