Ordealtree, sasswoodtree

Erythrophleum ivorense

Physical Characteristics

Erythrophleum ivorense is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. 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. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

West tropical Africa - Gambia to Cameroon, Central African Republic and Gabon.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark Edible Uses: Drink A bark decoction added to fermenting palm wine would make it a more potent drink[ 299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Anaesthetic Cardiac Diuretic Emetic Laxative A bark extract is taken orally as an emetic and laxative[ 299 ]. A decoction of the bark is applied externally to relieve pain[ 299 ]. Water in which the bark of young branches is crushed, is rubbed on the skin to treat smallpox[ 299 ]. The plant is a source of alkaloids. The bark contains the alkaloids cassaine, cassaidine and erythrophleguine. The alkaloid content ranges from 0.2% to 1.1%. In high doses, the bark extract is an extremely strong, rapid-acting cardiac poison, in warm-blooded animals causing shortness of breath, seizures and cardiac arrest in a few minutes[ 299 ]. The alkaloids have a stimulant effect on the heart similar to that of the cardenolides digitoxine (from Digitalis) and ouabain (from Strophanthus gratus), but the effect is very short-lasting, as the alkaloids are quickly metabolized in the organism[ 299 ]. Cassaine and cassaidine have strong anaesthetic and diuretic effects, and increase contractions of the intestine and uterus[ 299 ]. Apart from an increase of heart contraction in systole, the alkaloids also demonstrated an increase in diastole. In addition, cassaidine caused depressive effects, while cassaine caused a violent state of excitation[ 299 ]. Although the alkaloid content in the seeds is markedly lower than in the stem bark, the seeds are more toxic[ 299 ]. This strong activity is due to a strong haemolytic saponin, which acts in a synergistic way with the alkaloids[ 299 ].

Known Hazards

The bark, and sometimes the seeds, are widely used as hunting and ordeal poison[ 299 ]. The bark is used as fish poison[ 299 ]. The sawdust may irritate mucous membranes and may cause allergy and asthma of labourers in sawmills[ 299 ].