The two largely sympatric species Anthonotha crassifolia and Anthonotha macrophylla are difficult to distinguish from one another. They can easily be separated when in fruit, much less easily when in flower and usually almost impossible when with leaves only[].

Common Name:

General Information

Anthonotha macrophylla is an evergreen shrub or tree with a wide-spreading crown; it usually grows from 4 - 20 metres tall, exceptionally to 30 metres. The plant is often multi-stemmed, or branching from near the base; the bole can be 10 - 40cm in diameter, sometimes widening at base; often with a straggling habit[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as a shade-producing and soil-improving tree.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria, Cameroon and southern Central African Republic, south to northern Angola and DR Congo.

Habitat

Secondary formations; gallery forest, riversides; with Elaeis guineensis at edge of rice-field; with Raphia; deciduous forest; coastal closed forest; at elevations up to 700 metres[]. Undergrowth in the thicker
parts of the evergreen forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Natural regeneration is usually good to very good[, ].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

The seeds are useful as a general food[].

Medicinal

The bark is said to be useful in the treatment of venereal diseases and as a vermifuges[].

The roots are used to treat intestinal related discomfort[].

Gums extractable from the bark have analgesic properties[].

The leaves are antidote, astringent. They can be used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, as antidotes in the treatment of venomous stings and bites, and also for treating skin infections[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is a shade-bearer, it protects the soil and helps to improve it484].

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the white sapwood. The wood is cross-grained and rather hard. The wood is used locally for posts[].
We have no further specific information, but trees in this genus generally hace a tough, hard wood that is suitable for local construction purposes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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