Wild Bauhinia
( Musekese, camel's foot tree, monkey bread, monkey biscuit tree or Rhodesian bauhinia )
- Piliostigma thonningii
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Tree Type: Deciduous
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade 1: Tracheophytes
- Clade 2: Angiosperms
- Clade 3: Eudicots
- Clade 4: Rosids
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Genus: Piliostigma
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General Information
Piliostigma thonningii grows scattered throughout Zambia except on the Nyika plateau. When fields are left fallow these trees often emerge. A very dominant tree in Macha area. Heavy clayey soils or medium loamy soils are preferred by this plant.
Fun Facts!
Description
The flower petals are white and the thick, calyces (or seed pods) are covered in rust coloured hairs. The pods do not spilt (like other tree pods) but fall from the branches, then rot whilst on the ground, releasing the seeds.
Uses
The inner bark of the tree has been used to make rope. Used medicinally in many African countries to treat wounds, ulcers, gastric pain, heart pain, and gingivitis. A cough remedy is prepared from the root bark. Polyphenolic fractions of the root bark, exhibit potent antitussive activity. Extracts were screened for activity against Herpes simplex virus type and African swine fever virus.
Cultivation
Piliostigma thonningii grows quickly relative to some other tree species it competes with, and relies on rapid re-growth to survive bush fires.[1]
It grows up to 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall, with leaves that are similar to a bauhinia, but it differs from bauhinia by having separate male and female flowers on separate trees. Piliostigma thonningii grows scattered throughout Zambia except on the Nyika plateau. When fields are left fallow these trees often emerge. A very dominant tree in Macha area. Heavy clayey soils or medium loamy soils are preferred by this plant.
Toxicity and Allergies
Livingstone weather
Livingstone, ZM
9:48 AM,
20 December, 2024
23°C
light rain