Common Name: Mustard Tree

General Information

Mustard tree is an attractive, evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading, dense crown; it can grow 6 - 7 metres tall. The short bole branches freely from low down. The plant has small, bell-shaped flowers followed by aromatic fruits[, ].
A very useful, multipurpose tree, usually harvested from the wild, and providing food, medicines and various commodities for the local populace. The seeds are rich in volatile mustard oils and it is believed that this is the plant referred to in the Biblical parable of the mustard seed[]. The tree is possibly planted in shelter-belts and more recently it has been cultivated in Africa for toothpaste ingredients[]. It is often grown as an ornamental in the tropics[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Tropical Africa; through Arabia to India and Sri Lanka.

Habitat

In dry areas in coastal or riverine scrub on saline, sandy or alluvial soils[]. Often found in seasonally flooded areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier to arid areas in the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 30°c, but can tolerate 12 - 42°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 300 - 700mm, but tolerates200 - 1,500 mm[].
Prefers a well-drained, seasonally moist to wet soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers clay soils but is also found on loams, black soils and sand[]. Highly salt tolerant, it can grow on coastal regions and inland saline soils[, ]. Adapted to alkaline or very saline soils, usually clay-rich, and soils without salt[]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 8, tolerating 6.5 - 8.5[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[]. Tolerant of maritime winds[].
Generally a slow-growing tree[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads, prepared into a sauce or cooked[, , ]. Somewhat bitter and aromatic, with a taste likened to mustard[].

Fruit - a sweet, agreeable, aromatic, slightly pungent and peppery taste[]. The aromatic fruits can be eaten raw, dried like currants, made into a drink or used as a substitute for mustard seeds[]. The strongly flavoured, juicy, pink to purple fruits are about 10mm across and contain a single seed[].

A fat obtained from the seed is used as a substitute for vegetable butters in making chocolate[].

A salt is made from the ashes of the plant[, , ]. It is made from the burnt leaves[].

A chewing gum is produced from the resins and microfibres of the plant[].

Medicinal

The plant is used internally in the treatment of colds, skin complaints, urinary problems, syphilis, intestinal parasites, constipation, enlarged spleen, poor appetite, menstrual problems, rheumatism and arthritis[]. The plant is used to treat poisonous bites, bruises and for oral hygiene[].

The leaves of the mustard tree are an astringent, stimulant herb that is diuretic, expectorant and depurative[].
Externally, the leaves are used to treat abscesses and swellings[].
Both leaves and bark can be used to destroy parasites[].
The leaves are harvested as required for immediate use and can also be dried for later[].

The wood promotes healing[]. The bark of the root is acrid and vesicant[]. A latex obtained from the bark is used for treating sores[].
The bark and wood is harvested as required, then dried and powdered for later use[].

A decoction of the root is used to treat gonorrhoea, spleen trouble and general stomach-ache[]. The roots are also used for treating chest diseases[].
Applied externally, the roots are vesicant. They are pounded and used as a poultice to heal boils[, ].

The fruits are pungent and bitter[]. They are used to improve the appetite and bowel function, and to regulate the menstrual cycle[].
The fruits and the seed stimulate the circulation[].

The seeds are tonic[].
The seed oil is applied to the skin to relieve rheumatism[].
The seeds are harvested when ripe and can be used fresh or dried[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted as a windbreak to provide shelter for other crops[]. It is also planted for sand dune reclamation and is useful for reclaiming saline soils[].
The plant can be grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

The fringed roots and small twigs are widely used as traditional toothbrushes in Africa and by Muslims elsewhere[, , , ].
Toothbrushes are made from sections of the root by removing the bark from one end and then fraying the inner wood[]. This contains substances that are excellent for oral hygiene and the root is then chewed and applied to the teeth and gums[].

The seeds contain 30 - 40% of a greenish-yellow, non-edible oil. Known as 'Khakan fat', it contains over 50% lauric and myristic acids. It has a high melting point and a disagreeable odour that disappears on purification[]. The most important aspect of the oil is the presence of a low percentage of C8 and C10 fatty acids that are of great economic significance[]. It is used in making soaps and detergents, and is of potential interest for cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses. It is used traditionally for making candles[, , , ].

A resin that drips from the tree is supposedly useful for making varnish[].

The white wood is soft, not liable to attacks by termites and is easy to work. It has various uses, including for making coffins and clubs[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[]. It is not used for cooking since it can taint the food with a foul taste[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half-ripe wood rooted in a sandy medium[].

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