Pau Carvão. Mesquite. Iron tree
Prosopis africana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

n the Serer creation myth, it is one of the sacred trees that grew not just first, but also within the primordial swamp on Earth.

Prosopis africana is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Frequently on fallow land, on sandy clayey soils over laterite. Savannah land, especially in mesophytic woodland.

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Chad, Sudan and Uganda. Also in Saudi Arabia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

The fermented seeds are used as a food condiment.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The leaves are used in the treatment of headache and toothache as well as various other head ailments. The leaves and bark are combined to treat rheumatism. The bark is astringent. It is used in the treatment of skin diseases, caries and fevers. The bark is used to make an eyewash. The roots are diuretic. They are used to treat gonorrhoea, tooth and stomach-ache, dysentery and bronchitis.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Other

Rating: 3

Agroforestry Uses: The tree is suitable for erosion control, shade and as an avenue tree. It is planted to provide windbreaks, hedges and for soil conservation. It can fix atmospheric nitrogen and the fallen leaves act as a green manure. It has great potential for parkland agroforestry systems and for improved agroforestry technologies in the Sahel, where it grows well in valleys and rocky soils. Other Uses The bark and roots contain tannin. The bark contains some 18% tannins. A gum is obtained from the stems. The ashes of the seedpods are used as a source of potash for soap making. The sapwood is yellow, clearly demarcated from the red-brown heartwood, which becomes wine-red after drying. The wood is hard; of medium to heavy density; with a fine grain; durable; resistant to termites. It is hard to work as it blunts the tools, cannot be nailed without previous pre-drilling, but easy to carve, turn and glue. The wood is used as timber for pestles, mortars, mallets, cudgels, furniture, joinery, sleepers in the construction of railway lines, boat building and axe handles. It is sought for art and craft. The wood is highly valued as a fuel and for charcoal making.

Fodder: Food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them) rather than forage for themselves.

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen: Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.

Fodder: Pod: Fodder plants with pods.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Other Systems: Parkland: Africa - Trees scattered throughout cropland. An Irregular intercropping system.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen: Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.

Fodder: Pod: Fodder plants with pods.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Other Systems: Parkland: Africa - Trees scattered throughout cropland. An Irregular intercropping system.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A tree of semi-arid areas of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature falls within the range 22 - 35°c, but can tolerate 18 - 40°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 300 - 500mm, tolerating 200 - 700mm. Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position. Tolerant of most soil types. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, but tolerates 5 - 7.5. The tree has a deep, fast-growing tap root. Responds well to coppicing. This is the only tropical African Prosopis species, occurring from Senegal to Ethiopia in the zone between the Sahel and savannah forests. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. In it natural habitat, flowering occurs just prior to the rainy season. Seeds mature between February and March. Fodder: pod.

Propagating it: Seed - fresh, still moist seed does not require pre-treatment, butdried seeds need to be pre-soaked for 12 - 24 hours in warm water until the seed shows visible signs of swelling. If necessary, make a small incision in the seed coat (being sure not to damage the embryo) to allow the ingress of water. Sow the seeds in a nursery bed. Germination of around 85% of the seeds can take place within a week at 25°c. Seedlings are ready for planting out when 14 - 18 weeks old. Air dried seeds can remain viable for several years at room temperature.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The pounded dry fruits are suitable as a fish poison.

Its other names

Local names

Its common names include African mesquite, iron tree, iron wood, gele (Malinke) (traditional djembe wood) or somb tree. abu surung, abu suruj(Arabic); Hausa (kiriya); jaxan-jaxan,ir (Wolof), Bal-tencali, Buiengue, Bussagan, Cachem-cachao, Culengo, Culim-o, Djandjam-o, Djeiha, Karbon, Keseg-keseg, Ogea, Pau-carvao, Po-carvao, Po-de-carbom, Po-di-carvom, Quessem-quessem, Tchalem-ai, Tchela-tche-lengage, Tchela, Tchelangadje, Tchelem, Teacali-mand, Tentera,

Synonyms

Coulteria africana Guill. & Perr. Prosopis lanceolata Benth. Prosopis oblonga Benth.