Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1998) Author: DAVIES & B. VERDCOURT
Names
ZANHA africana (Radlk.) Exell [family SAPINDACEAE], in F.Z. 2: 537, t. 115A (1966); Verdc. & Trump, Common Pois. Pl. E. Afr.: 108 (1969); Vollesen in Opera Bot. 59: 58 (1980); Beentje, K.T.S.L.: 423 (1994). Lectotype, chosen here: Tanzania, Songea, Ungoni, Kwa Mtumbo, Busse 785 (EA!, lecto., EA!, K!, isolecto.)
Dialiopsis africana Radlk. [family SAPINDACEAE], in E. & P. Pf., Nachtr. 3: 207 (1907) & in E.P. IV, 165: 1419 (1933); T.T.C.L.: 557 (1949); K.T.S.: 509 (1961); F.F.N.R.: 224 (1962); Haerdi in Acta Trop., suppl. 8: 124 (1964)
Distribution
KENYA Machakos District Makueni, 24 Nov. 1955, Glover in E.A.H. 14/56!TANZANIA Mwanza District Geita, Sept. 1949, F.H. 2852!TANZANIA Ufipa District ridge E. of Lake Kwela, 7 Nov. 1950, Bullock 3473!TANZANIA Kilosa District between Berega and Mlali on Mpwapwa road, 10 Dec. 1935, B.D. Burtt 5384!
Notes
The fruits contain ± 10.5% saponins and are used as soap after boiling; reports from South Africa suggest they are edible. The bark of the roots appears to contain powerful drug elements. It is used in childbirth and against fungal infections, fits, insanity, pains of head and neck and other complaints, both by rubbing into incisions or on to the skin and taken internally. Fatalities following ingestion of an infusion of pounded root are known.The syntypes of Z. africana, Busse 785 and 785a, Rovuma R., Kwa-Ktira (seeds only) were destroyed at Berlin; one of the isosyntypes at EA, Busse 785, has therefore been selected as lectotype.