This species is very closely related to, and indistinguishable from, Polyscias fulva except when in flower[].

Common Name:

General Information

Polyscias kikuyuensis is a tree with a candelabra-like crown; it can grow from 15 - 25 metres tall. The bole can be free of branches for more than half of its height and up to 140cm in diameter[].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is sometimes cultivated in plantations[]. It is suitable for use as a shade tree in agroforestry systems, where it provides a good mulch and also helps stabilize the soil[]. A graceful, fast-growing tree, it is suitable for planting in gardens or avenues[].
This species is highly valued at a national level for its timber. Exploitation and habitat loss have led to it becoming rarer. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Kenya.

Habitat

Rain forests, often in valleys, at elevations from 1,750 - 2,750 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The following medicinal uses are for the closely allied species Polyscias fulva. They are very likely to also apply to this species[].

An infusion or decoction of the bark is taken for the treatment of fever and malaria, as an enema to treat colic, and as a purgative[]. The bark is used in mixtures with other plants to treat epilepsy[].
A maceration of the bark is applied as drops to the nostrils to treat mental illness[]. The pulverized bark is snuffed as an anodyne, and also to treat coughs, haemoptysis and tuberculosis[].

A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat intestinal complaints including those caused by parasites[]. The pounded leaves are used in the treatment of peptic ulcers[].
The pounded leaves are applied externally to treat fractures[].

Some triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the stem bark. One of these, alpha-hederin, showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree has a high crown offering little shade. It is, therefore, unlikely to harm other crops and can be used in agroforestry systems[].
The leaf litter serves well as a mulch; usually the soil under the tree is quite fertile[].
The tree can be grown along the banks of rivers to protect against erosion[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is whitish to pale yellow-brown; it is indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually straight; texture moderately fine to rather coarse; the wood has no distinct smell. The wood is light in weight, soft, brittle and not durable, being susceptible to attacks by fungi such as blue stain and brown and white rot, but it is easy to treat with preservatives.. It is fairly easy to air dry, but splitting and ring shaking may occur. It is easy to saw and work, but often planes to a rather woolly surface; it is liable to splitting upon nailing and screwing, but glues well. The wood is used for interior joinery, doors, utensils, musical instruments, containers, boxes, crates, beehives, carvings, matches, veneer and plywood. It is valued for carving to make handicrafts and masks, and also for making drums[].
The wood is used for fuel, although it is of low quality[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed in partial shade. Germination rates are usually good, with up to 75% of the seed sprouting within 5 - 7 weeks. Seedlings are gradually exposed to the sun and can be transplanted from the nursery into the field after 4 - 6 months[, ].
Fruits can best be collected from the trees as soon as they have become purplish black, but they are sometimes also collected from the ground. They should be dried in the shade for 1 - 2 days. Then the fruits should be soaked in water for 4 - 6 hours and the seeds squeezed out; they float in the water. After drying the seeds in the shade, they can be stored for up to 2 years, preferably at 3°c and 7 - 10% moisture content[].
Cuttings[].

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