Common Name:

General Information

Schrebera arborea is a deciduous tree that usually grows, up to 30 metres tall, though specimens to 40 metres have been recorded. The straight, cylindrical bole is buttressed or fluted for its first 2.5 metres, but is then free of branches; it can be up to 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is considered an important source of timber locally, though it is not traded. It is also harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is encouraged to grow by native people who tend it when it is young, is used as a shade tree in plantations and is also grown as an ornamental[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, south to Angola, DR Congo and Tanzania

Habitat

Dry deciduous forests and forest margins[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The growth of planted seedlings can be quite slow; in Senegal they reached on average 2.6 metres in height 5 years after planting[].
Planted trees can be managed by coppicing and pollarding[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The fresh twigs are an ingredient of a preparation that is taken to treat skin diseases[]. Macerations of the twigs are administered as a purgative to treat abdominal pain[].
In Uganda several plant parts are used as a purgative[].

The seeds are applied to the heads of children to treat skin complaints[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree has been recommended for planting to provide shade in coffee, cocoa and banana plantations[].

Other Uses

A dye is obtained from the wood, used to make tattoos, inks etc[].

The bark is used to make beehives[].

The heartwood is pinkish to yellowish brown, sometimes with violet streaks; it is not distinctly demarcated from the paler sapwood. The grain is straight to wavy, texture usually fine. The wood is moderately heavy, tough and quite hard. It air dries well, but care should be taken to avoid surface checking. The rates of shrinkage are rather highl. Logs may either be back-sawn or quarter-sawn after felling. Once dry, the wood is unstable in service. It is fairly easy to saw and work. In planing, picking-up of grain can be problematic, but it can be polished to a smooth finish. For nailing, pre-boring is recommended to avoid splitting. The gluing properties are satisfactory. The wood is easy to wax, paint and varnish. The heartwood is fairly durable, but occasionally susceptible to wood-boring beetles. The sapwood is liable to Lyctus attack. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservatives[]. The wood is used for general construction, railway sleepers, boat-keels, utensils, tool handles, shafts and beehives. It is suitable for flooring, joinery, interior trim, mine props, vehicle bodies, furniture, sporting goods, toys, novelties, agricultural implements, turnery, pattern making, veneer and plywood. It is also used as firewood and for charcoal production[].

Propagation

Seed - sow with the wings pointing upwards in a containers in a lightly shaded position. Stored seed usually germinates within 4 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough[].

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