Description

A small tree to 10 m high of the dry savanna and desert, occurring in Mauritania and Senegal and eastwards across the northern Sahel zone of the Region to E Africa, Egypt and Arabia.The wood is whitish, very hard and is used to make handles for weapons, implements, ploughs and water-troughs in the northern part of the Region (2, 4), chew-sticks in Ghana (4) and staves and toothpicks in Morocco (6). It burns with a nauseating smell (2, 4). The ash furnishes a black dye used by the Masai of E Africa to colour their shields (8).The leaves enter into human diet in Senegal and the leafy twigs yield a good forage for stock but horses will not browse it (1). It is especially of value in the dry season. The flowering shoots are much appreciated by camels (2). Crushed leaves are used in the Central Sahara as a febrifuge and an infusion of dried leaves for arresting vomiting (5) and for stomach-disorders (2). Leaves in decoction are considered in the western Sahara to be a specific against skin-affections of the head and leaves pounded with the bark and taken in draught in hot milk constitute a cure for fever and toothache (6). They are said to be usable like those of Cadaba farinosa Forssk. (3). The calcium content of leaves from Sudan are reported to be very high (4).The fruit is edible and is reported eaten in the northern part of the Region (2) in Mauritania, where it is known as eb nembe (Chevalier fide 3), and in Hoggar (5).The bark is used in the Kordofan and Darfur area of Sudan for purification of water (7).

Description

A small tree to 10 m high of the dry savanna and desert, occurring in Mauritania and Senegal and eastwards across the northern Sahel zone of the Region to E Africa, Egypt and Arabia.The wood is whitish, very hard and is used to make handles for weapons, implements, ploughs and water-troughs in the northern part of the Region (2, 4), chew-sticks in Ghana (4) and staves and toothpicks in Morocco (6). It burns with a nauseating smell (2, 4). The ash furnishes a black dye used by the Masai of E Africa to colour their shields (8).The leaves enter into human diet in Senegal and the leafy twigs yield a good forage for stock but horses will not browse it (1). It is especially of value in the dry season. The flowering shoots are much appreciated by camels (2). Crushed leaves are used in the Central Sahara as a febrifuge and an infusion of dried leaves for arresting vomiting (5) and for stomach-disorders (2). Leaves in decoction are considered in the western Sahara to be a specific against skin-affections of the head and leaves pounded with the bark and taken in draught in hot milk constitute a cure for fever and toothache (6). They are said to be usable like those of Cadaba farinosa Forssk. (3). The calcium content of leaves from Sudan are reported to be very high (4).The fruit is edible and is reported eaten in the northern part of the Region (2) in Mauritania, where it is known as eb nembe (Chevalier fide 3), and in Hoggar (5).The bark is used in the Kordofan and Darfur area of Sudan for purification of water (7).