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Summary
African Peach or Nauclea latifolia is a deciduous flowering plant with an open canopy and growing up to 9 m tall. It has small branches that are thick and drooping. The bark is dark gray, fibrous, and cracked. The leaves are shiny green, oval, and rounded at the base but pointed at the tip. The flowers are white-yellow and occur in a single rounded heads. It can be cooked and consumed as vegetable. The fruit is a compound fruit, red or pinkish, and round consisting of very small seeds. Its pulp is deep red, watery, and has a sweet flavor. African Peach is used against various medical conditions such as diabetes, fever, indigestion, and cough. It can also be used as windbreak and/or planted for soil conservation. Leaves can be used as mulch and small twigs as chewing sticks. Roots yield yellow dye. Wood is termite-resistant and used for inlay work and fuel. Nauclea latifolia Sm. is now known to be a synonym of Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce
Physical Characteristics
Nauclea latifolia is a deciduous Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Butterflies.
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 dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce. Cephalina esculenta (Afzel. ex Sabine) Schumach. & Thonn. Nauclea esculenta (Afzel. ex Sabine) Merr.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit
Edible Uses:
Fruit - raw[301 ]. The pulp is deep red, watery, sweet with a taste of ripe apple[307 ]. The fruit is said to resemble a strawberry in taste and texture[301 ]. The globose fruit is about 8cm in diameter[307 ]. Flower heads - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[46 , 301 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitussive Febrifuge Hypoglycaemic
Used in the treatment of diabetes[303 , 307 ]. The root is febrifuge and tonic[46 ]. It is used in the treatment of fevers, indigestion[46 ]. The fruit is eaten as a cure for coughs[303 ]. The alkaloid strictosamine is obtained from the roots, leaves and stem bark[303 ]. Researchers have reported that Tramadol (an opioid pain medication) was found in relatively high concentrations (1%+) in the roots of the Nauclea latifolia. This is now reported to be the result of Tramadol being administered to cattle by farmers. Radiocarbon analysis has confirmed that tramadol could not be plant-derived and was of synthetic origin (wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol).
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Dye Fuel Mulch Shelterbelt Soil stabilization Tannin Teeth Wood
Agroforestry Uses: A suitable species for planting schemes for conservation and soil stabilization[303 ]. The tree offers shade and acts as a windbreak[303 ]. It is used as a live stake to provide barriers in farms[303 ]. The leaves are used as a mulch[303 ]. Other Uses Small twigs are used as chewing sticks[307 ]. The bark is a source of tannins[303 ]. A yellow dye is obtained from the roots[46 ]. The heartwood is dark red-brown, hard and moderately heavy[307 ]. The wood is resistant to termites[303 ]. It is used for inlay work[307 ]. The wood is used for fuel[303 ].
Special Uses
Coppice Scented Plants
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Plants grow in hot tropical climates, where they are found at elevations from sea level to around 200 metres[303 , 335 ]. They grow best in areas where the mean annual temperature is around 27°c[303 ]. They succeed in a range of moisture conditions from fairly dry savannah to moist forest[335 ], preferring a mean annual rainfall around 2,700mm[303 ]. Plants are tolerant of a range of soils, preferring a position in full sun[307 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[307 ]. Seedlings commence fruiting when about 5 - 6 years old[335 ]. The flowers are extremely fragrant[307 ]. Plants respond well to coppicing[303 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - usually sown in situ[303 ]. The seed is said to germinate more quickly and reliably if it first passes through the gut of a baboon[303 , 307 ]. Cuttings of greenwood. Layering.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
African Peach, Angatu, Chipoka, Dhiot, Ebolo, Goat, Gongan, Gounge, Guinea peach, Karmadodah, Kwomo, Logotomic, Miaar, Monyo, Mutma, Nauclea, Negro-peach, Pincushion, Rata-bakmi, Sukisia, african cinchona, african quinine, akabi awotso, banampe, bari, baro, bati country fi g, brampe, country fig, country-fig, daindaté, dikabiatso, doundake, doundaké, ebele, ebeliodole, ebolo, edoil, egbesi, egbessi root, ekomokoi, ekusiawa, eomokoi, eutukidole, galun gun, guinea peach, guineapeach fathead tree, gulun gun, hwene hwenti, kankanu, katama, kina du rio nunez, kisia, kuru kuntu, kusia, lago, molo, munyu, mutamatama, mutma, nauclea, negro peach, nemo, njimo, nyimo, opepe, osupuwa, owentin, oyefa oshwefa, oyefa tshofa, peachroot, peyae biasa, pêcher africain, sarcocephalus latifolius, sierra leone peach, sierra leone-peach, supaka, tafashia, tafashia. telede, tshofa tshuru, woacroolie root, wuacruli.
Native Range
AFRICA: Uganda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Gabon, Benin, Côte D‘Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Sm.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Nauclea latifolia
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