Maerua crassifolia
Forssk.
Capparaceae
Maerua hirtella Chiov.
Maerua meyeri-johannis Gilg
Maerua rigida R.Br.
Maerua trichocarpa Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Maerua uguenensis Gilg
Maerua uniflora Vahl
Wiegmannia arabica Hochst. & Steud. ex Steud.
Common Name:
General Information
Maerua crassifolia is an evergreen tree with a spreading, much-branched crown; it can grow up to 10 metres tall. The bole is often stunted and twisted, it can be up to 25cm in diameter[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food, medicines and materials.
Maerua crassifolia has a widespread distribution and, although threats such as overgrazing occur in parts of its range, these are not thought to be having a significant impact globally. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Africa - drier areas throughout north Africa and the Sahel; south through east Africa from Eritrea and Somalia to Tanzania; east to Iran and Pakistan.
Habitat
Deciduous bushland; thickets; semi-desert scrub near rivers; in sandy soils; at elevations from near sea level to 1,620 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the arid tropics and subtropics, it grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall can be as low as 100 - 400mm and the dry season can be up to 11 months long[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Requires a sunny position. Found in the wild in dry, sandy soils[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. Established plants are extremely drought tolerant[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves cooked[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. They are eaten in couscous[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Leaves obtained from Sudan are reported to be very high in calcium[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Fruit[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The fruit is a brown, oblong pod, constricted between the seeds, and 5 - 10cm long[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Medicinal
The crushed leaves are used as a febrifuge, whilst an infusion of the dried leaves is used for arresting vomiting and treating stomach disorders[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. Leaves in decoction are considered to be a specific against skin-affections of the head[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The leaves, pounded with the bark and taken in a draught in hot milk, constitute a cure for fever and toothache[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Other Uses
The twigs are used to make chew sticks as a means of dental hygeine[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
A black dye is obtained from the wood ashes[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. It is used by the Masai of E Africa to colour their shields[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The bark is used for the purification of water[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The whitish wood is very hard. It is used to make handles for weapons, implements, ploughs, water-troughs, staves and toothpicks[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The wood is seldom used as a fuel because it burns with a nauseating smell[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
