| DESCRIPTION: It is a small, heavily branched tree, typically 4.5-7.5 m tall but occasionally reaching 15 m. The bole is fluted with high narrow ribs separated by deep indentations. Bole length occasionally reaches 3.6 m but normally ranges within .2-1.8 m. Stems often crooked. Leaves have a slender, common stalk 5-10 cm long with 8-13 leaflets sometimes nearly opposite USE: The pods and leaves can be used as animal fodder. Wood is used as timber and fuel. The roots are used in traditional medicines to treat abdominal pain, diarrhoea and syphilis. The wood smoke is inhaled to treat headaches and bronchitis. It is visited by a large number of bees. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: African black wood., African ebony, African ironwood, Senegal ebony (English). FURTHER INF: It grows under a wide range of conditions including semi-arid, subhumid and tropical lowland areas. It is often found on dry, rocky sites but is most frequent in the mixed deciduous forests and savannahs of the coastal region. This species demands water and light and therefore is common near water and will not regenerate under heavy cover. Mature trees are fire tolerant. Soils vary from loamy sands to clayey Vertisols. |
