Mwalimu-G
Elder Lister
Disclaimer: It is illegal to use this tree to fish.
Use it as medicine only when sure of the quantity for your own safety!
.
Senna didymobotrya
H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Common Name: Candelabra Tree, Mwinu in Gikuyu
Flowering plant
Photograph by: Martha de Jong-Lantink
General Information
Candelabra tree is usually a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or a small tree growing from 0.5 - 5 metres tall with occasional specimens up to 9 metres
A widely used medicinal plant in its native range, where it is gathered from the wild for local use
The plant has been introduced into Tropical Asia and America as a green manure, shade tree and cover crop, where it has become sporadically naturalized in frost-free regions, including Malesia
It is now also popular as an ornamental plant owing to its bright yellow flowers and black-green bracts
Known Hazards
Senna didymobotrya, like other Senna species, is poisonous
Decoctions from all plant parts can cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea and may be fatal[299].
It is recommended that pregnant women and children take a small dose[299].
The plant is widely used in Africa as a stupefacient poison for fishing (my note - I first became aware of it when it was shown to me as a poison for moles, and, I assume, other rodents. Just put a twig in the mole tunnel and when the mole eats it it dies) .
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Ethiopia to Sudan, south through eastern Africa to Tanzania, west to Angola.
Habitat
Often ruderal in riparian montane wooded grassland or evergreen bushland
Properties
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 2,500 metres
The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas and shows signs of being invasive
The plant flowers profusely twice a year
When planted as a small shade tree in tea plantations, it is spaced at about 5 x 5 metres
The plant yields a fairly large amount of material for green manuring. About 5 tonnes of green material provides 35.5 kg nitrogen
There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A popular medicinal plant within its native range, especially in East Africa
Some care, however, needs to be exercised when using this plant since in larger doses it is toxic.
A number of active compounds have been isolated from the plant. In particular, the leaves and pods have been shown to contain a number of anthraquinone derivatives, tannins and flavonoids
The anthraquinone derivatives are little resorbed in the small intestine but once in the colon, they are hydrolyzed by the bacterial flora and the anthraquinones formed are reduced to form the active anthrones, which are responsible for the laxative activity as they stimulate peristalsis
Anthraquinones such as emodin also inhibit ion transport across colon cells, contributing to the laxative effect
They also exhibit other biological effects including diuresis, vasorelaxation, and induction of muscular contractions, antioxidant properties as well as antibacterial and antifungal activities
The bioactivity of the plant against malaria is low, although it is fever-suppressing
The leaves, stems and roots are laxative and purgative, whilst in large does they are emetic
A decoction or infusion is drunk as a treatment for abdominal pains, to expel intestinal worms and to treat ringworm
The concoction may make the patient weak and if this happens the patient should drink milk. When treating children, the young leaves are cooked in banana leaves and given orally
The powder of the root or leaf mixed in water, or a decoction of the fresh parts, is taken to treat abscesses of the skeletal muscles and venereal diseases
The plant is also indicated for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections, hypertension, haemorrhoids, sickle cell anaemia, and a range of women’s diseases, such as inflammation of the fallopian tubes, fibroids and backache, to stimulate lactation, and to induce uterine contractions and abortion
A decoction made from the leaves, either alone or in mixtures, is used to treat external parasites such as ticks. The leaves and young stems are pounded to a pulp and applied to the skin to treat skin diseases.
A decoction of the root is drunk for the treatment of malaria, other fevers and jaundice
It is also used as an antidote for poisoning, to expel a retained placenta, and to treat East Coast fever and blackleg
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree has been used to provide shade in tea plantations
It has been introduced as a green manure and cover crop various parts of the tropics The plants can be lopped several times per year to provide green manure
Lopping is preferably done when the plants are in flower, when the nutrient content in the leaves is high
Growing plants stimulate the germination of any seeds of the parasitic plant witchweed (Striga spp) that might be in the soil It is not a host species for witchweed, however, so the witchweed soon dies
Thus, when incorporated into the rotation, it can effectively decrease the infestation
Other Uses
The ash of burnt twigs is used to coat the inside of gourds that are to be used for storing milk, as it is said to improve digestibility and palatability The milk can be kept in them for over a year
The hot ashes are used to clean beer vessels
The plant contains tannins. The flowers, bark, leaves and pods can all be used as a dye for fibres and give a wide range of colours (yellow, orange, red)
The leaves are used to ripen bananas by wrapping them around the bunch
The wood is used for making handicrafts, and is also used as firewood
Use it as medicine only when sure of the quantity for your own safety!
.
Senna didymobotrya
H.S.Irwin & Barneby
Common Name: Candelabra Tree, Mwinu in Gikuyu
Flowering plant
Photograph by: Martha de Jong-Lantink
General Information
Candelabra tree is usually a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or a small tree growing from 0.5 - 5 metres tall with occasional specimens up to 9 metres
A widely used medicinal plant in its native range, where it is gathered from the wild for local use
The plant has been introduced into Tropical Asia and America as a green manure, shade tree and cover crop, where it has become sporadically naturalized in frost-free regions, including Malesia
It is now also popular as an ornamental plant owing to its bright yellow flowers and black-green bracts
Known Hazards
Senna didymobotrya, like other Senna species, is poisonous
Decoctions from all plant parts can cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea and may be fatal[299].
It is recommended that pregnant women and children take a small dose[299].
The plant is widely used in Africa as a stupefacient poison for fishing (my note - I first became aware of it when it was shown to me as a poison for moles, and, I assume, other rodents. Just put a twig in the mole tunnel and when the mole eats it it dies) .
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Ethiopia to Sudan, south through eastern Africa to Tanzania, west to Angola.
Habitat
Often ruderal in riparian montane wooded grassland or evergreen bushland
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Medicinal Rating |
|
| Other Uses Rating | 
|
| Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
| Height | 3.50 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Self-fertile | Yes |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Succeeds in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 2,500 metres
The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas and shows signs of being invasive
The plant flowers profusely twice a year
When planted as a small shade tree in tea plantations, it is spaced at about 5 x 5 metres
The plant yields a fairly large amount of material for green manuring. About 5 tonnes of green material provides 35.5 kg nitrogen
There are conflicting reports on whether or not this tree has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether this tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A popular medicinal plant within its native range, especially in East Africa
Some care, however, needs to be exercised when using this plant since in larger doses it is toxic.
A number of active compounds have been isolated from the plant. In particular, the leaves and pods have been shown to contain a number of anthraquinone derivatives, tannins and flavonoids
The anthraquinone derivatives are little resorbed in the small intestine but once in the colon, they are hydrolyzed by the bacterial flora and the anthraquinones formed are reduced to form the active anthrones, which are responsible for the laxative activity as they stimulate peristalsis
Anthraquinones such as emodin also inhibit ion transport across colon cells, contributing to the laxative effect
They also exhibit other biological effects including diuresis, vasorelaxation, and induction of muscular contractions, antioxidant properties as well as antibacterial and antifungal activities
The bioactivity of the plant against malaria is low, although it is fever-suppressing
The leaves, stems and roots are laxative and purgative, whilst in large does they are emetic
A decoction or infusion is drunk as a treatment for abdominal pains, to expel intestinal worms and to treat ringworm
The concoction may make the patient weak and if this happens the patient should drink milk. When treating children, the young leaves are cooked in banana leaves and given orally
The powder of the root or leaf mixed in water, or a decoction of the fresh parts, is taken to treat abscesses of the skeletal muscles and venereal diseases
The plant is also indicated for the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections, hypertension, haemorrhoids, sickle cell anaemia, and a range of women’s diseases, such as inflammation of the fallopian tubes, fibroids and backache, to stimulate lactation, and to induce uterine contractions and abortion
A decoction made from the leaves, either alone or in mixtures, is used to treat external parasites such as ticks. The leaves and young stems are pounded to a pulp and applied to the skin to treat skin diseases.
A decoction of the root is drunk for the treatment of malaria, other fevers and jaundice
It is also used as an antidote for poisoning, to expel a retained placenta, and to treat East Coast fever and blackleg
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree has been used to provide shade in tea plantations
It has been introduced as a green manure and cover crop various parts of the tropics The plants can be lopped several times per year to provide green manure
Lopping is preferably done when the plants are in flower, when the nutrient content in the leaves is high
Growing plants stimulate the germination of any seeds of the parasitic plant witchweed (Striga spp) that might be in the soil It is not a host species for witchweed, however, so the witchweed soon dies
Thus, when incorporated into the rotation, it can effectively decrease the infestation
Other Uses
The ash of burnt twigs is used to coat the inside of gourds that are to be used for storing milk, as it is said to improve digestibility and palatability The milk can be kept in them for over a year
The hot ashes are used to clean beer vessels
The plant contains tannins. The flowers, bark, leaves and pods can all be used as a dye for fibres and give a wide range of colours (yellow, orange, red)
The leaves are used to ripen bananas by wrapping them around the bunch
The wood is used for making handicrafts, and is also used as firewood
