Common Name:

General Information

Xylia evansii is a tree with a spreading crown usually growing up to 28 metres tall but with occasional specimens to 35 metres. It is usually evergreen, but can be deciduous for a short period[]. The straight bole can be free of branches for 9 - 18 metres and around 80cm in diameter. It is often fluted and bent with large, humped buttresses[, ].
The tree is widely exploited from the wild for its valuable timber. It is also used locally for food, medicine and to supply various commodities.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Ghana.

Habitat

Evergreen forest, semi-deciduous forest and gallery forest. It is often found on well-drained alluvial soils, along small watercourses and on hillsides with deep soils, at elevations around 500 - 600 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Young trees can have an annual increment in diameter 6 - 14mm[].
The seeds are dispersed by the explosively opening pods at the end of the dry season[].
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

Roasted seeds are reportedly edible[].

A vegetable salt has been obtained from wood ash by leaching[].

Medicinal

A decoction of leafy twigs is administered as a cholagogue and tonic[].

Other Uses

The leaves and ash from pods are used as a substitute for soap[, ].

The twigs are used as chewing sticks to keep the teeth clean and healthy[].

The heartwood is reddish brown with darker streaks; it is distinctly demarcated from the pale yellow sapwood. The grain is interlocked; the texture fine. The wood is moderately heavy and hard. It dries quite fast and well. The recorded workability of the wood varies from fairly well to difficult. It is resistant against both fungi and insects[]. The wood is used for local construction[].

Propagation

Seed - the germination rate of fresh seeds in the nursery is fair. Stored seeds should be pre-soaked prior to sowing - immerse the seed in almost boiling water for a few minutes (being careful not to cook the seed!) and then soak it in warm water for 12 - 24 hours, by which time it should have imbibed water and swollen up[]. Germination starts 4 - 10 days after sowing[].

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