Sparrmannia is a taxonomically difficult genus with an uncertain number of species, but with at least 2 species in mainland Africa and 2 in Madagascar. Sparrmannia macrocarpa and Sparrmannia subpalmata are considered here as being synonyms of Sparrmannia ricinocarpa, but some authors consider them distinct species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Sparrmannia ricinocarpa is a much-branched perennial plant with slender stems that become more or less woody. It can grow up to 3 metres tall, sometimes adopting a scrambling habit of growth[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Nigeria, Angola; eastern Africa from Eritrea, Ethiopia, south to S. Africa, Madagascar.

Habitat

Edges, clearings in forest, secondary forest and scrub; grassland with bush-clumps and with patches of Arundinaria and Hagenia; persisting in hedges and in Eucalyptus plantations; gallery forest; savannah; fallow; at elevations 1,200 - 3,300 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can flower all year round[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark yields a good fibre that is locally used for making rope and textiles[]. It has been beaten on a mallet to obtain bark-cloth[]. As technology evolved, fibres were extracted by crushing the bark, after which they were combed or scutched, making them suitable for spinning and weaving[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of the previous season's growth[].

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