Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit
Edible Uses:

The fruit is edible[299 , 301 , 303 ]. The yellow fruit is an obovoid drupe, 18 - 25mm long with an aromatic, succulent flesh[303 ]. The flowers are mixed with rice to make a delicious cake-like festive dish that is eaten on the traditional New Year[301 ].

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.
Antibilious  Antidote  Blood purifier  Febrifuge  Laxative  Leprosy  Stomachic  Tonic


The bark, leaves and roots contain traces of alkaloids and are used medicinally in the plants native range[303 ]. For example, both fruit and bark have medicinal properties against bilious fever[303 ]. The roots have great medicinal value as a blood purifier, laxative, stomachic, tonic and as an antidote to poisons[299 , 303 ]. The leaf sap is used as a demulcent to treat gonorrhoea and cough, and is also applied to wounds and ulcers[299 ]. The flowers have been used to treat leprosy and blood diseases[299 ].

Charcoal  Dye  Fuel  Furniture  Hedge  Paper  Pioneer  Shelterbelt  Wood

Large flowering tree. Public open space. Specimen, Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: A highly light-demanding species, it is a pioneer plant that regenerates naturally only in the open and on the edge of forests[303 ]. It is an ideal choice for large-scale reforestation programmes[303 ]. It is intercropped with crops like maize and cassava, which has been found beneficial in increasing the simultaneous production of wood and food[303 ]. When intercropped with maize and cassava, it performs better under closely stocked stands of cassava, yams and maize. Cassava, however, suppresses re-growth of stumped trees and should, therefore, be planted 3 months later[303 ]. Gmelina forms an integral component of a taungya system where it is intercropped with peanut, cashew nut, tobacco, maize and beans[303 ]. Some limitations are that it casts heavy shade, and nothing will grow under a dense 2 x 2 metres stand; it forms a leaf carpet beneath trees, creating a mild fire hazard in times of prolonged drought[303 ]. It is used in enrichment planting on cocoa farms where its fast growing nature will quickly fill in gaps in the canopy. Cuttings and seedlings can be planted as shade for young and old cocoa trees providing protection whilst also suppressing invasive grasses[303 , 325 ]. The tree is often grown as a windbreak and as a hedge[299 ]. Other Uses: Both the wood ash and the fruit yield a very persistent yellow dye[303 ]. Although they do not contain saponins, the bruised leaves give a strong, frothing liquid[303 ]. When first cut, the heartwood is yellowish to reddish-white, turning light russet or yellowish-brown; it is indistinctly demarcated from the 5 - 7cm wide band of whitish sapwood. The grain is straight to interlocked; the texture medium to coarse; the wood somewhat oily to the touch; there are knots of variable sizes. The wood is light in weight; soft to hard; very strong, susceptible to fungi, dry wood borers and termites but said to be durable under water. The natural durability of the wood is about 15 years[303 ]. It seasons well without degrading, but it is slow to dry both in the open and in a kiln; once dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. It saws easily and has only slight blunting effects on tools; it planes to a smooth finish; polishes well; when knots are present the cutting angles should be reduced; it is too soft for satisfactory turning; nailing is fairly easy, but pre-boring is recommended for screwing as the wood tends to split. Rotary peeling and slicing are easy even without pretreatment, and the veneers are easy to handle without a tendency to tear; they remain flat during drying. The gluing properties are reported as good. Where it is indigenous, the wood is regarded as a valuable general-purpose wood because of its dimensional stability. Uses include the manufacture of furniture, plywood core stock, mine props, matches and timber for light construction[299 , 303 , 307 , 848 ]. It is also used for making canoes, musical instruments, for carving images etc[307 , 848 ]. The wood produces good-quality pulp. Unmixed semi-chemical pulp is suitable only for carton board or low-grade writing paper, but kraft pulp of yemane wood is suitable for higher grades of writing paper. It is also utilized for particle board[303 ]. The wood burns well and makes a good fuel and charcoal[303 , 418 ]. Is planted mostly for firewood, which has a calorific value of 4800 kcal/kg[303 ]. For firewood, a spacing of 2 x 2 metres is recommended. Plantations have been established for tobacco curing[303 ].

Special Uses

Coppice  Food Forest  Hedge