This species is closely related to both Pycnocoma angustifolia and Pycnocoma macrophylla. Intermediate forms between the three species exist, indicating that they could all be part of the same species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Pycnocoma cornuta is a stout, erect, deciduous shrub; it can grow up to 5 metres tall. The stems are up to 25mm in diameter, with the leaves clustered at the ends of the twigs[, ].

Known Hazards

The plant is strongly purgative and, in larger doses can be fatal. The bark has been used in criminal poisoning[].
The bark is used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Ghana, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo.

Habitat

Gregarious in the understorey of deciduous forest; common in open high forest; on rather dry soil; rocky places; at elevations up to 250 metres[, ].

Properties

Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The stem, root, bark and leaves are all strongly purgative[]. In large doses they can be fatal[].

The root is strongly purgative. When added to soup, it is used as a laxative[].

The root bark is used where a strong purgative is required. It is considered to be too strong a medicine to administer to children[]. To stop the purging, an adult patient to whom the root has been administered is given raw (?oil-)palm nut to eat[].
The powdered bark, combined with lime juice and water, is used as an emetic, repeated doses being effective for treating 'swelling of the abdomen'[].

The stem bark is ground, mixed with water and lemon juice and drunk as an emetic[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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