Balanites pedicellaris

Balanites pedicellaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Zygophyllales
Family:Zygophyllaceae
Genus:Balanites
Species: B. pedicellaris
Binomial name
Balanites pedicellaris
(Welw.) Mildbr. & Schltr.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Balanites horrida Mildbr. & Schltr.
  • Balanites australis Bremek.

Balanites pedicellaris, the small green-thorn or small torchwood is a small tree or shrub from Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a member of the caltrop family Zygophyllaceae.

Description

Balanites pedicellaris is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, although some specimens may have a single fluted trunk.[2] The branches are yellowish or greyish-green, bearing simple green spines. The leaves are alternate or grow on the spines, bifoliolate; the leaflets obovate, pale green, rather fleshy, down covered with a short downy petiole. The greenish-white flowers have 6 petals and are bunched in small, axillary clusters, approximately 1.4 cm in diameter. The fruit is a drupe, which is round or ellipsoid and normally flattened on either end, it measures 1·2–2·5 × 1·5–2 cm., the unripe fruit is usually covered in downy hairs but these are lost on the ripe fruit which is orange in colour.[3][4] Grows up to 6m tall.[4]

Distribution

Balanites pedicellaris occurs from Ethiopia and Somalia south through eastern Africa to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.[2]

Habitat

Balanites pedicellaris is found in dry woodland and scrub and on alluvial soils on floodplains,[3] where there are scattered trees.[4]

Uses

The fruit is eaten but is not sought after.[3] The fresh fruits are toxic and have a bitter taste, consumption causes thirst, dizziness and vomiting. A infusion made from the roots is used to treat fever and diarrhoea, the boiled root infusion is frequently added to milk given to children.[5] The root infusion is used as an emetic by the Turkana people.[2] The seeds are cooked and are an important source of food in northern Kenya, particularly in Turkana.[6] The leaves are used as browse for domestic animals while the wood is used for carvings and to make torches.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Balanites pedicellaris Mildbr. & Schltr". The Plant List. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Balanites pedicellaris Mildbr. & Schltr". Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Balanites pedicellaris Mildbr. & Schltr. subsp. pedicellaris". Flora of Zimbabwe. Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Flora Zambesica". Flora Zambesica. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Umberto Quattrocchi (2016). CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology (5 Volume Set). CRC Press. p. 521. ISBN 1482250640.
  6. ↑ Patrick Maundu; Bo Tengnäs (2005). Useful Trees and Shrubs for Kenya (PDF). World Agroforestry Centre. p. 118. ISBN 9966-896-70-8.
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