Breonadia salicina

(Vahl) Hepper & J. R. I. Wood

Water shea nut, African teak

Rubiaceae Edible: Bark - fermenting drinks, Medicine 590 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

Description

A tree. It can grow 40 m tall. The trunk can be 150 cm across. The leaves are in rings of 3-5 near the ends of twigs. The leaves are 7-33 cm long by 2-9 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The bark is used for fermenting drinks.

Medicinal Uses

Breonadia salicina is used in traditional African medicine. Mainly people use the bark to fight diarrhoea and other stomach/digestive tract problems but also use other parts of the plant for different uses. The bark of B. salicina has been found to be rich in tannins. Tannins are polyphenols that have been found to help with reducing growth of E. coli in digestive tracts. Leaf extracts of B. salicina have also been found to reduce activity of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. It is believed that these same anti-bacterial properties of B. salicina can be used for the preservation of foods. Possible antifungal compounds have also been isolated in B. salicina. The same antifungal compounds in B. salicina have been found to show activity in protecting oranges from infections.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed.

Other Uses

The twigs are used as chewsticks. The reddish wood is heavy and strong. Said to be untouched by borers and termites, it is used for house building and joinery.