Common Name: Pau Carvão

General Information

Prosopis africana is a fairly slow-growing, deciduous tree with an open crown and drooping branches; it can grow from 4 - 20 metres tall[, , ]. The bole has slightly rounded buttresses[].
The tree has a number of mainly local uses, being gathered from the wild as a food, medicine, timber and source of tannins.
Due to extensive overexploitation, this species has disappeared from extensive parts of the southern Sahel and the adjacent Sudan savannahs[].

Known Hazards

The pounded dry fruits are suitable as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Chad, Sudan and Uganda. Also in Saudi Arabia.

Habitat

Frequently on fallow land, on sandy clayey soils over laterite[]. Savannah land, especially in mesophytic woodland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of semi-arid areas of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature falls within the range 22 - 35°c, but can tolerate 18 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 300 - 500mm, tolerating 200 - 700mm[].
Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position[]. Tolerant of most soil types[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, but tolerates 5 - 7.5[].
The tree has a deep, fast-growing tap root[].
Responds well to coppicing[].
This is the only tropical African Prosopis species, occurring from Senegal to Ethiopia in the zone between the Sahel and savannah forests[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The fermented seeds are used as a food condiment[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves are used in the treatment of headache and toothache as well as various other head ailments[].
The leaves and bark are combined to treat rheumatism[].

The bark is astringent. It is used in the treatment of skin diseases, caries and fevers[, ]. The bark is used to make an eyewash[].

The roots are diuretic[]. They are used to treat gonorrhoea, tooth and stomach-ache, dysentery and bronchitis[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is suitable for erosion control, shade and as an avenue tree[]. It is planted to provide windbreaks,
hedges and for soil conservation[]. It can fix atmospheric nitrogen and the fallen leaves act as a green manure. It has great potential for parkland agroforestry systems and for improved agroforestry technologies in the Sahel, where it grows well in valleys and rocky soils[].

Other Uses

The bark and roots contain tannin[]. The bark contains some 18% tannins[].

A gum is obtained from the stems[].

The ashes of the seedpods are used as a source of potash for soap making[].

The sapwood is yellow, clearly demarcated from the red-brown heartwood, which becomes wine-red after drying[]. The wood is hard; of medium to heavy density; with a fine grain; durable; resistant to termites[]. It is hard to work as it blunts the tools, cannot be nailed without previous pre-drilling, but easy to carve, turn and glue[]. The wood is used as timber for pestles, mortars, mallets, cudgels, furniture, joinery, sleepers in the construction of railway lines, boat building and axe handles[]. It is sought for art and craft[].
The wood is highly valued as a fuel and for charcoal making[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - fresh, still moist seed does not require pre-treatment, butdried seeds need to be pre-soaked for 12 - 24 hours in warm water until the seed shows visible signs of swelling. If necessary, make a small incision in the seed coat (being sure not to damage the embryo) to allow the ingress of water. Sow the seeds in a nursery bed. Germination of around 85% of the seeds can take place within a week at 25°c[]. Seedlings are ready for planting out when 14 - 18 weeks old[].
Air dried seeds can remain viable for several years at room temperature[].

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