Common Name: Sneezewood

General Information

Sneezewood is a usually deciduous shrub or small to medium-sized tree usually growing up to 20 metres tall but with occasional specimens to 45 metres[]. The bole is often straight and cylindrical, usually up to 50cm in diameter, but occasionally to 120cm[].
The tree is highly valued for its timber, which has a wide range of uses. It is also gathered from the wild for medicinal use and is insect repellent. The tree has ornamental potential - a flowering tree can be a spectacular sight[].

Known Hazards

The wood dust is very irritating and may cause violent sneezing[].
Highly irritant, aromatic peppery oils, containing nieshoutol, are produced by the wood, causing violent sneezing by woodworkers after sawing or sanding[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and S. Africa.

Habitat

Dry evergreen forest, often together with Podocarpus and Juniperus, and in bushland, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, where it is found at elevations from sea level to about 2,000 metres[]. Tolerates moderate levels of frost[].
Thrives best in shale or lime soils, though it also succeeds in well-drained sandy or rocky soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The tree grows moderately fast, achieving annual increments of 40 - 100cm in height under good conditions[].
Trees can be managed by coppicing, showing regrowth in about 75% of cut stems[].
Natural regeneration often occurs in forest margins, but saplings have also been recorded in Pinus plantations in South Africa. Regeneration may be abundant after severe opening of the forest canopy, and seedlings may cover the bare forest floor after disturbance[].
Dioecious, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The wood has the scent of pepper and causes sneezing[]. The bark, the sawdust and the smoke from burning wood are used as a snuff against headache[, ].
Bark and wood infusions are considered remedies for rheumatism, arthritis and heart complaints[].

The wood resin is applied to warts and is used to kill ticks on cattle[].

A tea made from the twigs is used against urinary complaints[].

The wood and leaves contain chromones and other phenolic compounds. Some of these, methylalloptaeroxylin and perforatin A, showed antihypertensive effects; 7-Hydroxychromones have anti-oxidant activity[].
The tree lacks limonoids, which are commonly found in Rutaceae[].
An alkaloid isolated from the bark showed cardiac-depressant activity[].
Dichloromethane extracts of roots, leaves and stems showed moderate in-vitro antiplasmodial activity[].

Other Uses

The wood chips are used to repel moths from clothes[, ].
The smoke from burning wood is used as traditional pesticide for stored grain[].
The resin can be used as an insecticide[].

The heartwood is rose-red to dark red, changing to orange-brown or golden brown on exposure, and distinctly demarcated from the pale grey, narrow sapwood[]. The grain is wavy, texture fine[]. The wood is hard, heavy, tough, dense and close-grained, it has a satiny lustre and a strong peppery smell[, ]. The wood is extremely durable and resistant to termite, Lyctus and marine borer attacks[].
Taking into account its hardness, the wood is not difficult to saw, but it is difficult to work because of its wavy grain. However, it can be finished to a smooth and lustrous surface. The turning properties are excellent. Pre-boring before nailing is necessary. Gluing is difficult[].
The wood is highly valued for furniture and for poles in house building. In Mozambique it is favoured for making the keys of traditional xylophones, and for this purpose it is baked in an oven. It has also been used for railway sleepers and durable fence posts. It is suitable for heavy construction including marine works, heavy flooring, vehicle bodies, handles, sporting goods, implements, toys, novelties, precision equipment, carving, pattern making, vats and turnery[, ]. When used as machine bearings, sneezewood often wears longer than brass or iron[].
The wood contains an oil that makes it very inflammable - as well as being used as a fuel, it is employed as a tinder and is used to produce fire by friction[, ]. The wood is reported to 'burn like paraffin'- giving a bright, hot fire[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-treatment before sowing is not necessary. The seed can be sown in an equal mixture of river sand and compost, and should be covered by a thin layer of sand. The germination rate of fresh seed is generally high, but seeds lose their viability rapidly, within a few months. It is recommended to transplant seedlings when they have 3 leaves[].
Root suckers can also be used for propagation[].

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