Known locally as Mkolong’onjo.

From the Useful Tropical Plants Database

It is a deciduous shrub or tree with a spreading crown, most commonly 6 – 10 metres tall, though it can also often be found up to 20 metres tall, with reports of some trees reaching 30 metres. The bole, which is usually crooked, can be up to 100cm in diameter. It has a spreading canopy making it a fine shade tree but as it is extremely slow growing it is rarely cultivated.

A high quality wood that is very heavy and durable, it is in high demand for carving and a wide range of other uses.

Various parts of the tree are being used in traditional medicine against coughs and bilharzia and the ash is used as toothpaste.

It secretes an edible gum and its wood burns very slowly with intense heat as it is very hard.

Pertinent features