Common Name:

General Information

Combretum schumannii is a deciduous shrub, or more often a tree usually growing from 3 - 18 metres tall but occasionally reaching 30 metres. The bole is usually short and is often crooked or fluted, it can be up to 80cm in diameter[].
This species provides one of the four most popular woods for use in the carving industry in Kenya[]. The tree is often harvested from the wild, both for its wood and its local medicinal applications.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana.

Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats from rain-forest and Brachystegia woodland to grassland; at elevations up to 1,150 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Trees respond well to coppicing[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A pulp made from the root bark is applied to swellings[]. It is pounded and rubbed on swollen legs to reduce oedema[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of epilepsy and headaches. They are heated and applied to the chest to treat pneumonia[].

Agroforestry Uses:

It has been reported that the tree gives mulch of good quality[].
The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen for honey bees[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark purplish brown when freshly sawn, slowly darkening to nearly black after some years; it is distinctly demarcated from the narrow band of whitish sapwood. The grain is straight, texture moderately fine to fine, but not always even[]. The wood is heavy, hard, fairly durable, even in contact with the ground, and resists termite and marine borer attacks quite well. It is easy to work as long as sharp tools are used, and it takes a very nice polish; the turning properties are excellent; pre-boring is necessary for nailing; it joints well. The wood is used for heavy construction, flooring, pestles, combs and carvings. It is suitable for interior trim, ship building, vehicle bodies, mine props, handles, ladders, sporting goods, musical instruments, pulley blocks, toys, novelties, precision equipment and turnery[, ]. The branches are used for making bows for children to practice hunting; though they are not suited for adult bows because they break too easily[]. The wood is a very popular material for carving[].
The wood is used for fuel and also to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short period of viability and so should be sown while still fresh. Germination can be fast and the germination rate high. Whole fruits can be stored for a few weeks only without affecting the germination capacity of the seed. It has been recommended to strip off the wings of the fruit before sowing[].
Trees may produce root suckers that can be used for propagation[].

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