Pterocarpus antunesii is included here as part of this species, though it is treated as distinct in some works[, ].

Common Name:

General Information

Pterocarpus lucens is a deciduous shrub or tree with a dense and narrow crown; it can grow from 3 - 18 metres tall[, ], 774. The bole is generally straight, up to 20cm in diameter but branching from low down[]. Sometimes the tree has a more shrubby, much-branched habit[].
The tree is gathered from the wild for a range of local uses, including edible leaves, fuel timber, tannins and medicines.
Pterocarpus lucens has a large geographical distribution across tropical Africa. The taxon is known to occur within a number of protected areas and seeds have been collected by the Millennium Seed Bank Project. It is not considered to be severely threatened thought its range, however, a monitoring programme is advised to ensure that this taxon is not over-exploited. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2012)[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust may cause irritation in workers[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - the savannah belt from Mali to Ethiopia. Also in southern Africa - Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and S. Africa.

Habitat

Savannah, (dry) wooded grassland, deciduous woodland with Combretum, particularly on rocky outcrops; marigot, wet but well-drained sites, skeletal soils, lateritic depressions; locally gregarious; at elevations of 550 - 1,520 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pterocarpus lucens is a plant of the savannah regions of the tropics, where it is found at elevations of 550 - 1,520 metres[]. Up to 3,000 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 15 - 32°c, but is tolerant of 12 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 700mm, but tolerates 250 - 900mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a deep, sandy soil, but can also succeed on clay, stony and gravely soils[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[].
The roots have nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but this species is considered to have comparatively low nitrogen fixation potential[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ]. They are also used as an appetizer and to make sauces[, ].

Medicinal

The bark is a powerful astringent[]. It is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and tapeworm infections[, ].

A root decoction is applied against lumbago and to treat kidney complaints[].

The leaves are used for treating abdominal problems[].
Applied externally, the leaves are used to heal wounds[]. Leaf macerations are used to treat headache[].

Other Uses

The bark is locally used for tanning[].

The wood contains a yellowish dye[].

The heartwood is creamy white and indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight or interlocked, texture moderately fine. Freshly cut wood has an offensive smell. The wood is hard, moderately heavy to heavy, moderately durable[, ]. Although hard and tough, it generally saws and works well, although interlocked grain may cause some picking up in planing. It splits easily, but holds nails and screws well. It turns well. When a filler is used, the results of painting, polishing and varnishing are satisfactory[]. The wood is locally valuable, used for joinery, flooring, furniture, cabinet making and implements. It is also suitable for heavy construction, mine props, shipbuilding, vehicle bodies, sporting goods, toys, novelties, railway sleepers, veneer and plywood. Locally in the Sahel region it is one of the preferred timbers for posts and light carpentry in houses, huts, cereal stores and shelters. It was formerly used for wagon wheel rims[].
The wood is commonly used as firewood, giving a hot flame and little smoke[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking the seed for 12 - 24 hours in warm water is likely to improve germination rates. If the seed has not swollen after this, then carefully scarify it to allow the ingress of moisture by making a small hole in the seed coat without damaging the embryo[]. Optimum temperatures for germination are in the range of 25 - 35°c[]. Sow the seed in a sunny position, either in nursery beds or in pots. Scarified seed germinates well in 3 - 4 weeks[].
The dried seeds can be stored for up to 4 years under favourable conditions[].

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