White bauhinia, Zambezi coffee

Bauhinia petersiana

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Basic Information

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: bauhinia

Plant ID (slug): bauhinia-petersiana

Numeric ID: 21270

USDA Hardiness: 9-12

Ratings

Physical Characteristics

Bauhinia petersiana is a deciduous Tree growing to 7 m (23ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) 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.

Distribution

Africa - southern DR Congo, Tanzania, southern Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, S. Africa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil Root Seed Seedpod Edible Uses: Coffee Drink Oil Seed - cooked. Roasted and eaten like nuts, when they are considered a delicacy[299 ]. The seeds can be harvested whilst immature - the whole green pod is briefly roasted and then the seeds removed and eaten[775 ]. A meal made from the pounded seeds is eaten[299 ]. The seeds can be eaten green, but ripe seeds are usually roasted, peeled, and pounded into a pleasant-tasting, coarse meal[322 ]. The mature seeds are roasted and ground into a powder then used as a substitute for coffee[299 , 775 ]. Immature seedpods - cooked[299 ]. They can be roasted or boiled[299 ]. Root - roasted[775 ]. The core of the root is rejected and only the outer portion eaten[775 ]. Mainly a famine food, it is seldom eaten at other times[775 ]. An oil is obtained from the seed[299 ]. The principal fatty acids in the seed oil are linoleic acid (45%), oleic acid (26%), palmitic acid (16%) and stearic acid (7%)[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antitussive Skin The leaves are boiled, the steam inhaled and the cooled-down liquid drunk to cure common cough[299 ]. The pounded leaves, mixed with salt, are boiled and the warm liquid is sprinkled on wounds to promote healing[299 ]. An infusion of the roots is used to treat dysmenorrhoea and female infertility[299 ]. A decoction of the macerated roots is drunk as a remedy for diarrhoea[299 ]. The roots and leaves contain tannins[299 ].