Common Name:

General Information

Xanthocercis madagascariensis is a deciduous tree; it can grow up to 30 metres tall[]. Evergreen in another report[]. The straight and cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 10 metres and up to 80cm in diameter[].
The wood is highly valued, being harvested from the wild for local use and for export. The tree also provides an edible fruit that is used locally.
Selective logging of this species takes place for fuelwood and construction purposes. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust irritates mucous membranes and protective measures are needed during sawing operations[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - west and north Madagascar.

Habitat

Deciduous and evergreen forest, often near the coast but also up to elevations of 400 metres. It can be found on sandy soils, but also on limestone outcrops and basaltic soils[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The fruit pulp is edible[]. The fruit is a a drupe-like ellipsoid pod 25 - 50mm long, occasionally to 90mm, and up to 25mm long; it contains 1 - 3 seeds, with slight constrictions between each seed. The seeds are enclosed in a fibrous, edible pulp[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is beige-brown to brown, often with lighter patches and dark streaks; it is distinctly demarcated from the 6 - 8 cm wide band of paler sapwood. The grain is often wavy, texture fine and even. The wood is very heavy, hard, durable and resistant to fungi, termites and marine borers. The rates of shrinkage during drying are high. The wood is rather difficult to saw, requiring much power and dulling sawteeth rapidly; it is difficult to work; nailing is almost impossible without pre-boring; it finishes well; staining and polishing give very good results. The wood is used sometimes as a substitute of the wood of Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale) for luxury furniture, exterior and interior joinery, luxury flooring, and in boat construction. It is also used for wood carving, and for making butcher’s blocks, pulleys and luxury decorative handles of brushes and implements. The wood is suitable for mine props, vehicle bodies, musical instruments, toys and novelties, turnery, draining boards and pattern making. It is popular for poles that are durable in contact with the ground[].
The wood is used as firewood and for making charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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