Lepisanthes senegalensis

Lepisanthes senegalensis is a tree widespread through tropical Africa and tropical Asia to New Guinea and northern Australia.

Description

A shrub or tree. It grows 5 m tall. It can grow to 24 m high. The trunk can be 45 cm across. The branches often have small cracks along them. The bark is smooth and pale brown. The leaves are leathery. The leaves are compound. The leaves are divided 3-6 times. They are 30-60 cm long. There are 4-8 leaflets. They are 6-30 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The lowest pair of leaflets are small and often fall off. The flowers are in groups and can be in the axils of leaves or hanging from the branches. The flowers are small and red. The flowers are 8-10 mm across. There are 4 or 5 white petals. The fruit are dark red to black berries. They are lobed. They are 2-3 cm long. There are 1 or 2 seeds. These are 14-19 mm long and grey-brown. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The pulp is swallowed and the seeds discarded. The red, oval fruit is 12 - 18mm in diameter, containing two black seeds. Some caution is advised, there are reports that the fruit could be toxic.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION. The seeds are toxic. The leaves are also toxic. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The seeds are ejected.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The roots are used medicinally.

Known Hazards

The seed is said to be poisonous in quantity. The flowers are used as a fish poison. The plant contains saponins and some reports suggest that the fruit is poisonous, whilst others say that they are all right to eat. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa. It is an understorey tree. It grows in evergreen forests. In tropical Australia it grows in rainforest from sea level to 50 m altitude. It suits humid locations. In Borneo it grows in coastal and swamp forest up to 600 m above sea level. It can grow in sandy or clay soils. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It can often be on coral or lava rock near the sea. It often grows near rivers in arid areas.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Senegal*, Sikkim, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, West Africa*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Other Uses

The leaves are used to make a shampoo. The twigs used as chew-sticks. The wood is medium hard, heavy and durable. It has an attractive grain. It is used for furniture, poles and for making small utensils.

Production

In Tanzania fruit are collected from February to June. In India plants flower and fruit November to April.

Other Information

Fruit are sold in markets in Senegal. It is a cultivated plant.

Notes

There are 24-40 Lepisanthes species. They are mostly in the tropics. The fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Achatta, Akisibaka, Amjam, Bekuda, Bonghadi, Bulao, Celle, Ceri senegal, Cerise du Senegal, Ch'egua, Daung-baung, Dieng-soh-jimmang, Duluai no, Dodekhitheng, Eyindie, Gotaharina, Hekokeko, Iligisiriko, Jejide, Kelayu gunung, Kihari, Kilinga caba, Kul, Kulugengeno, Kumen rofokor, Kurudiendieng, Lal-kocpura, Mancinga, Maiki-bandardima tiktiki, Mduru-mweupe, Mguena, Mgwena, Mkungulungu, Mlangwe, Msaro, Musaretsi, Nghuya, Obah, Ochol, Oleragai, Sarenja, Sembo, Sirhootungchir, Txiv ntsav npua, Zutul

References (50)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 46
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 46 (As Lepisanthes senegalensis)
• Argent, G et al, nd, Manual of the Larger and More important non Dipterocarp Trees of Central Kalimantan Indonesia. Volume 2 Forest Research Institute, Samarinda, Indonesia. p 563
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Balemie, K., & Kebebew, F., 2006, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Derashe and Kucha Districts, South Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

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