Common Name:

General Information

Schotia brachypetala is an evergreen tree in warmer, frost-free areas, but loses its leaves for a short period in the cooler parts of its range. It has a wide-spreading, densely-branched, rounded crown and can grow from 5 - 16 metres tall, occasionally to 22 metres. The bole is up to 60cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant has a variety of uses and is often harvested from the wild as a local food, medicine and source of materials. With its decorative foliage, showy flowers and symmetric shapely habit, this is an excellent shade-providing tree for gardens and parks, but it is not advisable to plant it over paved areas, car parks etc, because of the dripping nectar in the spring[].

Known Hazards

It has been reported that wood dust may cause allergic reactions to the eyes[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Zimbabwe, Mozambique, eastern Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Open, deciduous woodland; drier types of woodland and scrub forest; thicket; frequently associated with termite mounds; also along river banks (in S. Africa); at elevations from near sea-level to 1,350 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	14.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Birds
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas in the tropics and subtropics. It is somewhat tolerant of frost, young plants require protection, but a well-established older tree in a protected spot, should be able to withstand a minimum of down to around -5°c[, ].
Prefers a position in full sun[]. Young trees perform best when they have been planted in deep sandy soils with plenty of well-decomposed compost added[]. Established trees are drought resistant[].
The tree usually grows slowly, especially when on heavier soils, but when planted on deep sandy soils it may grow quite rapidly. A planted tree reached a height of 12 metres 17 years after being planted as a cutting[].
Nectar is often so abundant that it drips from the flowers, which are visited by sunbirds, but also by insects such as bees, and by monkeys[, ].
Fruits ripen about 6 months after flowering. The seeds are probably mainly dispersed by birds attracted by the yellow arils[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Roasted seeds are eaten[]. Traditionally, the pods are picked green and then roasted. The seeds would have effectively been steamed inside the pods before being removed and eaten[]. They are low in fat and protein, but have a high carbohydrate content[].

The roasted seed has been used as a coffee substitute[].

The flowers, which produce abundantly nectar, are sometimes chewed[].

Medicinal

Preparations of the bark, and sometimes of roots and leaves, are used in traditional medicine. The medicinal activity of the bark may be due to the presence of tannins[].
Fatty acids with antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, and to a lesser extent against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, have been isolated from the leaves[].
Bark extracts exhibited pronounced monoamine oxidase-B inhibition activity, supporting the use in traditional medicine to treat mental health problems[].

The bark is antiinflammatory, emetic, nervine. Decoctions and infusions are used in the treatment of heartburn, hangovers, nervous conditions, mental health problems and fontanel depression in babies[, ]. It is combined with other herbs and used as a tonic[, ]
The bark is applied externally to swellings[].

The bark and roots are used together to treat diarrhoea; strengthen the body; purify the blood; to treat nervous heart conditions; and also for facial saunas[].

Pulverized leaves are used as a dressing to treat ulcers, and the smoke of burnt leaves is inhaled against nose bleeding[].

Other Uses

The bark has been used for tanning and also gives a reddish brown dye[, ].

The heartwood is dark brown to nearly blackish, often with a greenish tinge; it is distinctly demarcated from the pinkish sapwood, which changes to yellowish brown upon exposure. The texture is fine and dense. The wood is heavy and hard, only moderately durable, but quite resistant to termites. A good quality wood, it is used for furniture, flooring, wagon beams and carving[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a seedtray in a somewhat shaded position. Presoaking overnight in warm water is not essential, but may speed up the germination process. The seed usually germinates well[].
Truncheon cuttings - take while the tree is not in active growth, and place in well-drained sandy soil in a cool shady spot and keep damp but not wet[].

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