Skip to main content

Pterocarpus mildbraedii

Pterocarpus mildbraedii

 

Harms

 

Fabaceae

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Pterocarpus mildbraedii is an evergreen or semideciduous tree with a small, rounded crown; it can grow 15 - 25 metres tall, with reports of trees up to 36 metres in east Africa. The long, straight bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[
299
328
364
].
The edible leaves are often harvested from the wild for local use and are also often sold in local markets. Some attempts are underway to develop the tree as a cultivated food crop[
299
]. The tree is also a local source of wood and is used to provide shade in cocoa plantations.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

West tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Gabon; also found in Tanzania.

Habitat

Lowland rainforest, dry evergreen forest and riverine forest, at elevations up to 1,250 metres[
299
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Growth RateFast
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


The plant is tolerant of acid soils[
299
].
The tree grows fast and coppices well[
299
].
The root system is superficial: most roots are in the top 30cm of the soil[
299
].
The plant has an intermittent pattern of leaf flushes; flushes often appear in the dry season when other leafy vegetables are scarce[
299
].
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
].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
299
].
Hydrogen cyanide and oxalate levels in the leaves are high, but not such that they pose a health danger for consumers[
299
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The trees have been either planted or retained in cocoa plantations in order to provide shade[
328
].

Other Uses

There are two very conflicting reports for the wood of this species, as detailed below. It is possible that the reports are based on the two subspeciies and that the wood of trees from west Africa (subspecies mildbraedii) is soft and white, whilst that from east Africa (subspecies usambarensis) is red and heavy[
K
].

The whitish wood is soft. It is of little commercial value[
299
]. The tree is rarely exploited for its timber, although in Tanzania it is used to make mortars[
299
].
The red wood of the subspecies usambarensis (Verdc.) Polhill (as found in east Africa) is hard and heavy. It is used for timber, building poles, pestles and carving[
364
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
364
].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2020-06-30. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pterocarpus+mildbraedii>

Comments

onuorah jennifer 25th April 2015 3:30
Medicinal uses:it is used in the treatment of diarohea and dysentery and 2: it is also use in the warding off animal skin parasite in ethnovertionary practices.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The 16 Best Foods to Control Diabetes

Subscribe GO Nutrition Evidence Based The 16 Best Foods to Control Diabetes Written by Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE on June 3, 2017 Figuring out the best foods to eat when you have diabetes can be tough. The main goal is to keep blood sugar levels well-controlled. However, it's also important to eat foods that help prevent diabetes complications like heart disease. Here are the 16 best foods for diabetics, both type 1 and type 2. 1. Fatty Fish Share on Pinterest Fatty fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Salmon , sardines, herring, anchovies and mackerel are great sources of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which have major benefits for heart health. Getting enough of these fats on a regular basis is especially important for diabetics, who have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke ( 1 ). DHA and EPA protect the cells that line your

TWITA, BRENUETUATTA, TWETA ( SIDA ACUTA)

TWITA, BRENUETUATTA, TWETA ( SIDA ACUTA) Preferred Scientific Name Sida acuta Burman f. Preferred Common Name sida Other Scientific Names Malvastrum carpinifolium (L.f.) A Gray Malvinda carpinifolia (L.f.) Medik. Sida acuta subsp. carpinifolia (L. f.) Borss. Waalk. Sida acuta var. carpinifolia (L. f.) K. Schum. Sida acuta var. intermedia S. Y. Hu Sida acuta var. madagascariensis Hochr. Sida berlandieri Turcz. Sida bodinieri L.f. Sida carpinifolia L. f. Sida carpinifolia f. acuta (Burm. f.) Millsp. Sida carpinifolia f. spiraeifolia (Link) Millsp. Sida carpinifolia var. acuta (Burm. f.) Kurz Sida chanetii Gand. Sida frutescens Cav. Sida garckeana Pol. Sida jamaicensis Vell. Sida lancea Gand. Sida lanceolata Roxb. Sida orientalis DC. Sida planicaulis Cav. Sida scoparia Lour. Sida spiraeifolia Link Sida spiraeifolia Willd. Sida stauntoniana DC. Sida ulmifolia Mill. Sida vogelii Hook. f. International Common Names English:  bro

POPULAR GHANAIAN FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND SPICES INSIGHTS

ADASEMA (Chrysophyllum africanum) Family Name:  Sapotaceae Local Name:  Adasema, Alasa, Adasa Uses As Per Literature:  The latex from the bark and young fruit is used as birdlime. A bark infusion is used in traditional medicine as a stomachic and carminative. A maceration of the stem bark is taken to promote lactation. Powdered bark is applied to sores. The fruit is used to treat diarrhoea and vomiting. The seed oil is edible, and the seeds are also used to make soap. Source: Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 Traditional Uses:  Fruit pulp is eaten as a fruit. Plant Category:  Forest Foods Seasons Available:  Rainy Season Food Category:  Fruits How it is eaten:  Raw Part eaten:  Fruit Tetrapleura tetraptera ( PREKESE) Family Name:  Fabaceae Local Name:  Prekese Uses As Per Literature:  The bark is used to treat gastric ulcer and dysentery. The fruit is us