Terminalia sambesiaca

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

Terminalia sambesiaca is an evergreen tree tree with a dense crown and grows up to 40 m high and 90 cm in trunk diameter. The trunk is usually straight, cylindrical, and slightly buttressed. It is a fast-growing tree commonly found in East tropical Africa. Traditionally, it is used against stomach pain, infertility in women, fever, colds, cancer, stomach ulcers, appendicitis, and diarrhea. Further, it exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties. No plant part is edible. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately durable, and susceptible to termite attack. It is used for poles, stools, mortars, tool handles, construction, flooring, shipbuilding, furniture, toys, veneer, plywood, etc. It is also used for fuel and charcoal.

Terminalia sambesiaca is an evergreen Tree growing to 32 m (105ft) by 32 m (105ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. 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. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 32

Where it is found

Rainforest, dry evergreen forest and riverine forest, less often in savannah woodland and on rocky hills, from sea-level up to 850 metres.

East tropical Africa - southeast Kenya, Tanzania, northern Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Kenya; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Malawi; Mozambique

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 4

In traditional medicine the leaves are used to treat stomach-ache and infertility in women, whereas bark and leaf decoctions are applied to treat fever, colds, cancer, stomach ulcers and appendicitis. Powdered root bark is mixed with porridge and eaten to treat bloody diarrhoea. Methanol extracts of the roots showed marked antibacterial activity against Enterobacter aerogenes, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sarcina sp., Salmonella typhi, Shigella boydii, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, as well as distinct antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Cryptococcus neoformans. Bark extracts also showed antibacterial activity and leaf extracts antifungal properties against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Antifungal activity was found especially in polar fractions of the extract and might be due to the presence of tannins. Root extracts showed strong cytotoxic effects against several human cancer cell lines, e.g. Against HeLa cervical cancer cells, T24 bladder cancer cells and BBCE endothelial cells.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Other

Rating: 3

Other Uses: The heartwood is yellow with brownish stripes on quarter-sawn surfaces, darkening rapidly to yellowish brown or greenish brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the up to 6cm wide band of cream-coloured sapwood. The grain is interlocked; the texture fine and even. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately durable, being susceptible to termite attack. It seasons fairly rapidly, with little degrade, though surface checking and some distortion may occur, especially in kiln drying; once dry, the wood is moderately stable in service. It is moderately difficult to saw and work with hand and machine tools; it often finishes well, but the use of a filler has been recommended to produce good surfaces; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring. The wood is used for building poles, ship masts, stools, mortars, tool handles and beehives. It is suitable for construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, bridge decking, ship building, furniture, cabinet work, sporting goods, toys, novelties, railway sleepers, mine props, veneer and plywood. The wood is used for fuel and for charcoal production.

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

The tree is said to grow rapidly. The flowers have a strong and unpleasant smell, and are probably pollinated by flies. Although this species has been reported to be an excellent timber tree, very little is known about its growth rates, propagation and possibilities for establishing plantations.

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Terminalia aemula Diels Terminalia foetens Engl. Terminalia obovata Sim Terminalia riparia Engl. & D