| DESCRIPTION: It is a deciduous tree reaching 10-35 m in height, with a round, heavy crown of dense, dark foliage. The flowers bloom with great profusion, and the trees can be seen from great distances. USE: The seeds are edible. The hard central portion of the fruit is used to kill animals. The bark has laxative and antiseptic properties, and the seeds, flowers and roots are used as medicine. The bark is chewed and sprayed over swollen cheeks. The bark may also be boiled in water used for bathing newly born babies to heal body rashes. The tree is grown for shade as an ornamental, avenue tree and in coffee plantations. Also planted for revegetation and as a living fence. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: African tulip tree. FURTHER INF: The species is found throughout tropical Africa and is widely grown as an ornamental. It grows naturally in Africa in secondary forests in the high forest zone and in deciduous, transition, and savannah forests. It colonizes even heavily eroded sites, though form and growth rate suffer considerably on difficult sites. It develops best in fertile, deep, well-drained loams. Soil texture may range from loamy sands to clays, pH is between 4.5-8, and soil drainage may vary from poor to excessive. |
