African Blackwood, Grenadilla, Mpingo

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Physical Characteristics

Dalbergia melanoxylon is a deciduous Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) 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 Bees. The plant is not self-fertile. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor 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 - drier areas from Senegal to Ethiopia, south to S. Africa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antibacterial Antidiarrhoeal Antifungal Antiinflammatory Aphrodisiac The roots are said to be anthelmintic and aphrodisiac[ 299 ]. A decoction is used to prevent miscarriage, to treat abdominal pain, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea and syphilis[ 303 ]. The wood smoke is inhaled to treat headaches, colds and bronchitis[ 299 , 303 ]. The stem and root bark is used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea in combination with baobab or tamarind fruits[ 299 ]. A bark decoction or bark powder is used to clean wounds[ 299 ]. A leaf decoction is used to relieve pain in the joints[ 299 ]. The leaf sap is taken to treat inflammations in mouth and throat[ 299 ]. Bark extracts have shown antibacterial and antifungal activities, thus supporting the traditional application for cleansing wounds[ 299 ].

Known Hazards

None known