Common Name:

General Information

Kirkia acuminata is a semideciduous tree with a large, spreading, rounded crown; it can grown 6 - 20 metres tall, occasionally to 23 metres. The clean bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is often harvested from the wild for local use of its wood, it also supplies a fibre, has a range of medicinal uses and is an emergency source of water in dry areas. It is often grown as a hedge.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Angola, southern DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Found in a range of habitats including bushland, woodland, savannah and rocky hillslopes, at elevations to 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	13.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly hot and dry areas in the tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,600 metres. The plant is susceptible to frost[, ].
It prefers well-drained, basic soils, but may be found on various soil types, from alluvial flats and sandy or loamy soils near rivers to sandy and dry soils and rocky slopes[]. Often found wild on the poorer soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

The swollen roots are used as a source of water in times of drought[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the bark is taken as a remedy against vomiting and abdominal pain[].

An infusion of the root is taken to treat coughs[].
The pulverized roots are a remedy for toothache[].

The fruit sap is applied on wounds and is used as an antidote on snake bites[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often planted to form a live fence[, , ].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the bark is made into cloth[, , ].

The heartwood is pale brown or green-brown, with an attractive dark brown veining; the up to 75mm wide band of sapwood is yellow-white or pale grey. The grain is usually straight, locally interlocked, the texture is fine.
The wood is fairly light in weight, soft to moderately hard, moderately durable but the sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus borers. Thin boards dry easily, but thick boards are difficult to season; splitting and surface checking may occur. The wood saws easily, but rapidly blunts tools, due to the presence of silica crystals; frequent sharpening of cutting edges is necessary. It planes easily and turns fairly well; polishes readily; glues satisfactorily and slices and peels well. The wood is used for poles and planks, household utensils (bowls, spoons), carts, musical instruments, tourist items, veneer and plywood. In South Africa the wood is made into furniture and floor blocks. It is also considered suitable for light construction, flooring, vehicle bodies, cabinet work, interior trim, agricultural implements, boxes and crates, core stock, matches, toys and novelties, turnery, hardboard and particle board, and as pulpwood[, ].
The wood is made into charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - easy[].
Cuttings root easily[].

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