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Useful Tropical Plants

Xeroderris stuhlmannii

(Taub.) Mendonça & E.C.Sousa

Fabaceae


This name is not universally accepted. Adema, F. 2000. Notes on Malesian Fabaceae XX. Derris in Thailand and Malesia. Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 28:2 - 16 has transferred this species to the genus Aganope as Aganope stuhlmannii (Taub.) Adema (treated here as a synonym). We are following the treatment by GRIN, which maintains the genus Xeroderris[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Aganope stuhlmannii (Taub.) Adema

Deguelia stuhlmannii Taub.

Derris stuhlmannii (Taub.) Harms

Lonchocarpus argenteus A.Chev.

Ostryoderris chevalieri Dunn

Ostryoderris stuhlmannii (Taub.) Harms

Common Name:

Xeroderris stuhlmannii
Ripe seedpods
Photograph by: Arne Erpenbach
© Arne Erpenbach; www.westafricanplants.senckenberg.de

General Information

Xeroderris stuhlmannii is a deciduous tree with a rounded or spreading crown and ascending branches; it can grow from 5 - 20 metres tall, exceptionally to 27 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 12 metres and up to 120cm in diameter[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of wood, fibre and tannin. Although potentially toxic, it is often used in traditional medicine and the seeds are an emergency source of food. The tree is sometimes planted to provide protection from the wind.

Known Hazards

The seeds are said to be toxic if eaten raw, but safe to eat if well cooked[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Although they are used medicinally, root decoctions can reportedly have a violent action on the intestines, causing strong emesis and possibly causing loss of sight[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Botanical References


Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria; eastTropical Africa - Kenya, eastern DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique.

Habitat

Various types of deciduous woodland, grassland, savannah and bushland, particularly on well-drained soils; in hot dry sandy country; at elevations up to 1,650 metres[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height12.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


The plant grows particularly on well-drained soils, also succeding on poor sandy soils[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Established plants are drought resistant[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The tree tolerates pruning, pollarding and coppicing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
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[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten in times of food shortage, but only after prolonged cooking, since they are reported to be poisonous in the fresh condition[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. They are also ground to a powder to produce a meal[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Medicinal

The bark is purgative. It is used in traditional medicine to treat coughs, colds, rheumatic arthritis, stomach-ache, dysentery, eye infections, wounds[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The roots are vermifuge. A decoction is used as a treatment for internal parasites, elephantiasis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, dysmenorrhoea, chest pains and urinary complaints[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
A root decoction is applied externally against ringworm. The pounded roots are applied to sores[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The leaves are used to treat colds, coughs, wounds, stomach problems, amenorrhoea, fever and malaria[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Root decoctions have a reportedly violent action on the intestines, causing strong emesis and possibly causing loss of sight[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

In Tanzania this plant is considered to be useful for wind breaks[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

The bark contains a fibre, which is sometimes used to make brooms[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]

The bark is a source of tannins[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The red bark exudate is sometimes used as a dye and for tanning[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The heartwood is cream-coloured to dark yellow, occasionally with reddish streaks; it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight, rarely interlocked; texture moderately fine and even. The wood is heavy; fairly hard; moderately durable - it is susceptible to powder-post beetle attack, but not particularly to termite and pinhole borer attack. It air dries slowly, with considerable distortion but little checking; kiln drying gives best results. Once dry, the wood can be unstable in service. The surface of the wood can be given a smooth, lustrous finish; nailing, screwing and gluing properties are good. Due to the narrow lumen and thick walls, the fibres are rigid and the wood is not suitable for the production of good quality paper. The wood is used for furniture, railway sleepers, canoes, handles and utensils. It is used locally to make grain mortars and the branches are used for making roofs. The wood is suitable for heavy construction, flooring, vehicle bodies, sporting goods, interior trim, joinery, poles and piles, carving, toys and novelties, turnery, veneer and plywood[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The wood is also used as fuel and for the production of charcoal[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Propagation

Seed - the germination rate is up to 70% within 2 weeks from sowing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Suckers[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Xeroderris+stuhlmannii>

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