Mate: mguluka; Mwera: chiguruka; Nyam: mteyo, mteyu;
Eng: violet tree; Fiome: furudau; Fipa: mluka, muuruka;
Nyih: kitwantumbi; Suku: mengo-mengo; Zinza;
nengo-nengo.
Widespread in tropical Africa from Kenya to South Africa.
In Tanzania it occurs in miombo woodland, bushland and
on forest edges from sea level to about 1,600 m. It is most
common in coastal forests.
Firewood, poles, medicine (all parts), fodder (leaves), bee
forage, ornamental, fibre (inner bark), oil (flowers, seed),
soap (roots).
A semi-deciduous shrub or small tree 2-6 m, with slender
branches to an open crown, sometimes with drooping
branchlets. BARK: young twigs yellow-green, becoming
stringy and pale; rough grey mature bark flakes to show
yellow below. Deep fissures when old. LEAVES: alternate,
thin and narrow, tip rounded, to 5 cm long, hairy when
young, becoming smooth, blue-green, sometimes clustered
on spine-tipped branchlets. FLOWERS: small, about 1 cm
long, pink or purple, sweet scented in showy sprays with
new leaves. FRUIT: rounded and winged, to 4 cm long,
purple-green when young, pale yellow-brown when
mature, hanging in bunches.
Seedlings, direct sowing.
No. of seeds per kg: 36,000-36,500. Seeds germinate with
difficulty if not pre-treated. Germination of treated seed
good and fairly fast.
soak in cold water for 24 hours.
can retain viability for a long period at room temperature
if kept dry.
Fairly fast growing.
A beautiful flowering tree with potential as an ornamental
in parks and gardens. The wood is pale yellow and has
been used for bows. The fibres have been used for fish nets,
bead strings and thread to sew barkcloth. The roots contain
methyl salicylate and a saponin making them highly
poisonous. An antidote for snakebite and a cough mixture
are prepared from leaves, an abortifacient from powdered
bark and a root infusion relieves toothache. But great care
must be taken when using these medicinal substances.
436 Securidaca longipedunculata
Polygalaceae
437