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Useful Tropical Plants

Uapaca heudelotii

Baill.

Phyllanthaceae

+ Synonyms

Uapaca bossenge De Wild.

Uapaca marquesii Pax

Uapaca prominenticarinata De Wild.

Common Name:

Uapaca heudelotii
Fruiting branch
Photograph by: John Kaparidi
Creative Commons License
Uapaca heudelotii Uapaca heudelotii Uapaca heudelotii

General Information

Uapaca heudelotii is an evergreen tree with a dense, low-branching crown; it usually grows up to 30 metres tall, though specimens to 40 metres have been recorded The bole is up to 100cm in diameter, usually with many stilt roots up to 3 metres high. The bole is seldom branchless for more than 7 - 8 metres[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
965
Title
Uapaca (Phyllanthaceae) in the Guineo-Congolian forest region: a synoptic revision
Publication
Plant Ecology and Evolution 146 (1) 75 - 94
Author
Breteler F. J.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.770
Publisher
Royal Botanical Society of Belgium
Year
2013
ISBN
2032-3913
Description
A revision of the west African members of the genus Uapaca
].
The plant is used locally as a source of food, medicines and timber. It is planted by rivers to stabilize the soil.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Central African Republic, south to Angola and DR Congo.

Habitat

Riparian situations in the closed and fringing-forests[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Always in wet places, mostly on river borders, usually partly in the water[
965
Title
Uapaca (Phyllanthaceae) in the Guineo-Congolian forest region: a synoptic revision
Publication
Plant Ecology and Evolution 146 (1) 75 - 94
Author
Breteler F. J.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.770
Publisher
Royal Botanical Society of Belgium
Year
2013
ISBN
2032-3913
Description
A revision of the west African members of the genus Uapaca
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height25.00 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details



A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
965
Title
Uapaca (Phyllanthaceae) in the Guineo-Congolian forest region: a synoptic revision
Publication
Plant Ecology and Evolution 146 (1) 75 - 94
Author
Breteler F. J.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.770
Publisher
Royal Botanical Society of Belgium
Year
2013
ISBN
2032-3913
Description
A revision of the west African members of the genus Uapaca
].

Edible Uses

Fruit[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The flavour is said to be similar to the medlar (Mespilus germanica)[
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.
]. The ellipsoid to obovoid fruit is 22 - 30 mm long and 18 - 22mm wide[
965
Title
Uapaca (Phyllanthaceae) in the Guineo-Congolian forest region: a synoptic revision
Publication
Plant Ecology and Evolution 146 (1) 75 - 94
Author
Breteler F. J.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.770
Publisher
Royal Botanical Society of Belgium
Year
2013
ISBN
2032-3913
Description
A revision of the west African members of the genus Uapaca
].

Medicinal

The inner bark contains a sticky red sap. A bark-extract is used on skin-affections and as an emetic[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

A stem or root-bark-decoction is used in the treatment of female sterility, food-poisoning, rheumatism, localised oedemas and rachitic and premature babies. It is applied as an enema in the treatment of haemorrhoids[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The decoction is used as a mouthwash and gargle for treating tooth-troubles[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The leaves, or the bark, are pulped with palm-oil for external application to furuncles, migraines and rheumatism; it is also used as a massage for children who are late in learning to walk[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

A quantity of saponin is present in the leaves, but there are no reports of other active principles[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The plant (part not specified) is used to promote intelligence[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The stilt-roots, and in addition adventitious aeration roots, of the tree on stream-banks encourage accumulation of silt and the formation of solid ground, thus countering erosion[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Other Uses

The inner bark contains a sticky red sap. A bark-extract is used to dye fishing-lines[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The heartwood is reddish-brown; the sapwood light-coloured tinged with red[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The grain resembles mahogany but is a bit harder, more fibrous and less easily worked. The wood is durable. It splits well. It is cut for building poles; is suitable for carpentry and general construction; is used in buildings; and is cut for planks and timbers. It has been suggested for barrel-staves[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The stilt-roots and the branches are used for ribs of boats and parts of canoes[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The wood makes a good fuel and charcoal[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Uapaca+heudelotii>

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