Strychnos decussata

(Pappe) Gilg

Cape teak, Chaka's wood

Loganiaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 143 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A small slender tree. It grows 3-12 m high. The branches are very leafy and droop downwards. The bark is dark grey and rather smooth. It has light brown dots. The leaves are oval and broadest above the middle. They are 1.5-5 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are leathery. They are glossy green. The base tapers. The flowers are small and white or greenish. They have a scent. They are in loose heads 3.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. They occur in the axils of leaves or on old wood. The fruit are almost round. They are fleshy with a crusty rind. They are about 1.5 cm across. They are orange or red when mature. They contain 1 or 2 smooth seeds.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The green fruit are considered poisonous. The ripe fruit are eaten. CAUTION: Many Loganiaceae are very poisonous.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Although toxic, the roots and bark are used in traditional medicine as a treatment for stomach problems.

Known Hazards

Various parts of Strychnos plants, especially the seeds and bark, contain toxic alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine. The fleshy pulp of the ripe fruits, however, is often edible. The bark and fruits are poisonous, especially when green.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to S Africa. They grow at low altitudes and along rocky dry watercourses. It grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level. It can grow in the lowlands. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Established plants are drought tolerant.

Other Uses

The reddish-brown wood is rather coarse-grained, hard, heavy, strong, moderately elastic and tough. The wood is not durable, as it is liable to dry rot and gets worm-eaten. It is used for rural utensils, staves for coppers' works etc.

Also Known As

Ampeny, Dangoa, Hazomby, Hapeny, Mdolongwe, Mebuebue, Mutolongwe, Umpathawenk, Vakampeny

References (17)

Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 387
Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 28:121. 1901
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1380
Dale, I. R. and Greenway, P. J., 1961, Kenya Trees and Shrubs. Nairobi. p 253
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 260

Show all 17 references

Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 163
JSTOR Global Plants edible
Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
Mutie, F. G., 2020, Conservation of Wild Food Plants and Their Potential for Combatting Food Insecurity in Kenya as Exemplified by the Drylands of Kitui County. Plants 2020, 9, 1017
Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 765
Reitveld, S., 2013, The Animals and Plants of the Zazamalala Forest in Western Madagascar. p 99
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 73
van Wyk, B, van Wyk, P, and van Wyk B., 2000, Photographic guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Briza. p 296
von Breitenbach, F., 1985, Southern Cape Tree Guide. Department of Environment Affairs, Forestry Branch. Pamphlet 360 Pretoria p 27
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew