Quassia gabonensis
Pierre
Simaroubaceae
There has been considerable confusion by botanists over this species, Quassia sylvestris and Quassia undulata, with all three at one time being treated as one species (as Quassia undulata). More recent research ('Two new names in West-Central African Quassia L. [Simaroubaceae]'; Martin Cheek & Carel C. H, Jongkind, Kew Bulletin Vol. 63 247-250 []) has concluded that these species are distinct, and this is the treatment that is followed here[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Odyendyea gabonensis (Pierre) Engl.
Odyendyea klaineana (Pierre) Engl.
Quassia klaineana Pierre
Simaba gabonensis (Pierre) Feuillet
Common Name:
General Information
Quassia gabonensis is a medium-sized to fairly large tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The bole, which can be branchless for up to 24 metres, is up to 200 cm in diameter, usually straight, and deeply fluted over its entire length[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of timber.
Known Hazards
Cytotoxic quassinoids have been isolated from the bark[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Botanical References
Range
West tropical Africa - Cameroon to Congo.
Habitat
Mainly found in rainforest, in primary as well as in secondary forest, often on sandy soils[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Although it nowhere occurs abundantly, it is locally common[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Tree |
Height | 35.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The fruits, known locally as 'Nzeng' are used locally as a condiment[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A flour prepared from the seeds is used as a condiment in sauces[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. To prepare the flour, the seeds are first boiled for 2 - 3 hours, then placed in running water for one week to eliminate their bitterness, after which they are kept in a smokehouse to dry for one month, and then crushed to obtain the flour[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Fat extracted from the seeds can be eaten raw[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Medicinal
A mixture of the pounded leaves, combined with palm oil, is rubbed on the head as a treatment against head lice[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
A decoction of the bark is taken as a treatment against stomach-ache, bronchitis and lung complaints[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The ground bark mixed with palm oil is applied as a salve to treat psoriasis[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The head is washed with a maceration of the bark as a treatment for head lice[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cytotoxic quassinoids have been isolated from the bark[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Fat extracted from the seeds is made into various medicines[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is pale yellow and lustrous; it is not demarcated from the sapwood[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The grain is fairly regular, sometimes irregular, texture medium to coarse. The wood is lightweight, soft, brittle and has a low durability, being liable to fungal attack and susceptible to termites, powder-post beetles and dry-wood borers[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Seasoned wood saws easily and planes well. Screws and nails are applied easily, with little tendency for the wood to split, but it does not hold nails well[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The wood peels and slices easily, but as the logs are deeply fluted peeling is not recommended[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It can be pulped satisfactorily using the kraft or sulphite processes[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The wood is used for making musical instruments, mallets to beat bark for house construction, spoons, and bells for hunting dogs. In general it is considered suitable for ship and boat building, furniture and cabinet work, frame moulding, light boxes and crates, interior trim, matches, toys and novelties, veneer and plywood, hardboard and particle board, wood-wool, and as pulpwood[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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