Plants known by Tiv names — part 8 of 10 (Lienegh; Akomboadam to Nyihar; Agabi; Ingbian), 389 plants in all. Each entry gives the English and scientific names where they are known, a description, and what the archive records of the plant’s medicinal, food and ritual uses and how it is grown.
Tallow tree; Dattock; Detarium
Detarium microcarpum
- Description
- A savanna tree of the legume family bearing round, edible fruit, known as sweet dattock or tallow tree.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves, bark, roots, and fruit are used across West Africa for diabetes, malaria, weakness, skin infections, urinary complaints, and diarrhoea.
- As food
- The fruit is eaten raw or cooked, or processed into flour.
- Cultivation
- A wild tree of savanna woodland in the drier regions of West and Central Africa.
Canthium, Thorny/Coastal/Shiny-leaved canthium.
Canthium spp
- Description
- Canthium species are thorny shrubs or small trees with opposite leaves, stiff supra-axillary spines, small fragrant flowers, and lobed drupaceous fruits, commonly found in dry tropical habitats.
- Medicinal uses
- Canthium is widely used in traditional medicine to treat digestive disorders, fevers, infections, metabolic diseases, pain, inflammation, parasitic infections, and snake bites using its roots, leaves, bark, and fruits.
- As food
- The ripe fruits and young leaves of some Canthium species are edible, nutritionally valuable, and traditionally consumed fresh, cooked, or processed into jellies.
- Ritual uses
- Various Canthium species are used in spiritual protection, fertility rituals, pregnancy care, and ceremonial smoke inhalation practices in African and Asian traditions.
- Cultivation
- Although mostly wild, Canthium can be cultivated from seeds in dry, well-drained soils with full to partial sunlight, though it is slow-growing and prone to fungal attack.
Wild coffee; Forest canthium
Canthium sp
- Description
- A shrub or small tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae); the genus includes several wild relatives of coffee with edible fruit in some species.
- Cultivation
- A wild shrub of forest and savanna; species identification for this record is not fully resolved to species level.
Cassava; Tapioca; Manioc
Manihot esculenta
- Description
- A shrubby root crop grown for its starchy tuberous roots, one of Africa's major staple food crops.
- Medicinal uses
- Raw roots and leaves contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic if eaten unprocessed; proper soaking, fermenting, or cooking is required before consumption.
- As food
- Roots are processed into garri, fufu, and tapioca among other staple foods; the leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from stem cuttings; tolerant of poor soils and drought, harvested roughly 8-24 months after planting.
Justicia; Wild justicia
Justicia schimperi
- Description
- A wild herbaceous plant in the Acanthaceae (the same family as the fountain-plant Justicia species).
- Medicinal uses
- Leaf extracts are used as an antidiarrheal remedy in Ethiopia; boiled leaves are given to loosen infants' bowels in Togo and Ghana and applied to wounds, and the plant is used for high blood pressure in some Yoruba communities.
- As food
- Leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, similar to spinach, in parts of West and Central Africa.
- Cultivation
- A wild or semi-wild herb.
African ebony; West African ebony; Jackal berry
Diospyros mespiliformis
- Description
- A large forest tree bearing edible, plum-like fruit, in the ebony family, and valued for its dark, durable wood.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark and leaf preparations are used across Africa for fever, malaria, diarrhoea, wounds, and toothache; twigs are chewed as a traditional toothbrush.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten fresh and the leaves are used in brewing traditional alcoholic beverages in some areas.
- Cultivation
- A slow-growing, deep-rooted, drought-resistant wild forest tree.
West African hardwood; Axlewood; Baure
Anogeissus leiocarpa
- Description
- A savanna tree in the Combretaceae, valued for its fine, hard wood traditionally used for tool handles; recently reclassified by some botanists into the genus Terminalia.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, leaves, and roots are used across West Africa as an anthelmintic for treating worms, and in decoction for wounds, infections, and diabetes.
- Cultivation
- A wild, fire-resistant savanna tree.
Spreading hogweed or red hogweed
Boerhavia diffusa
- Description
- A prostrate, spreading perennial herb with small pink flowers, in the four-o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae).
- Medicinal uses
- Root and leaf preparations are used traditionally as a diuretic and laxative, and for jaundice, oedema, and snakebite.
- Cultivation
- A common weed of waste ground and cultivated land.
Gmelina, White Teak, Goomar Teak, Kashmir Tree
Gmelina arborea
- Description
- Gmelina arborea is a tall deciduous tree with a straight trunk, shedding pale bark, large heart-shaped leaves, fragrant yellow flowers, and edible yellow-orange drupes.
- Medicinal uses
- All parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine as tonics, laxatives, anti-inflammatory agents, wound treatments, and remedies for fever, digestive disorders, skin diseases, and blood ailments.
- As food
- Its ripe fruits are eaten, flowers are cooked with rice in traditional dishes, and the leaves serve as nutritious fodder for livestock.
- Ritual uses
- The tree holds cultural and sacred value, with its wood used for traditional musical instruments and its flowers featured in festive foods.
- Cultivation
- Gmelina arborea is a fast-growing, seed-propagated tree suited to warm, humid climates and fertile soils, widely planted for timber, shade, and plantation use due to its strong coppicing ability.
Papaya, Pawpaw, Papaw.
Carica papaya L.
- Description
- Carica papaya L. is a versatile, fast-growing tropical plant within the Caricaceae family, cultivated globally for its nutritional fruit and extensive medicinal applications.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves, seeds, fruit, roots, and latex are used to treat dengue fever, digestive issues, worms, wounds, respiratory problems, inflammation, and, traditionally, for contraceptive purposes.
- As food
- Ripe fruit is eaten raw, unripe fruit is cooked in soups and salads, leaves and flowers are consumed as vegetables, seeds are used as a spice, and the fruit is processed into jams, jellies, and meat tenderizers.
- Ritual uses
- Carica papaya is planted for protection, used in traditional rituals and ceremonies, and incorporated into herbal mixtures with cultural significance, while unripe fruit and latex are cautioned against in pregnancy.
- Cultivation
- Propagation is mainly by seeds, with vegetative methods like cuttings, grafting, or tissue culture used to maintain desirable traits.
Papaya; Pawpaw; Tree melon
Carica papaya
- Description
- A fast-growing, soft-wooded tree bearing large, orange-fleshed fruit.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and seeds are used traditionally against malaria and digestive complaints; the latex (containing papain) is applied to wounds and used as a meat tenderizer.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten fresh; the unripe fruit is cooked as a vegetable.
- Cultivation
- Fast-growing from seed, fruiting within about a year; a short-lived tree.
Pineapple
Ananas sativus (syn. A. comosus)
- Description
- A herbaceous rosette plant producing a single sweet, composite fruit from a cluster of fused berries; widely cultivated across the tropics.
- Medicinal uses
- The fruit and leaves are used traditionally as a digestive aid and anti-inflammatory, and against intestinal parasites; the enzyme bromelain, found in the fruit and stem, has documented anti-inflammatory properties.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten fresh, juiced, or cooked in a wide range of dishes.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from the leafy crown, suckers, or slips; the parent plant fruits once, with new shoots continuing the planting.
Cocoyam; Taro; Old cocoyam; Dasheen
Colocasia esculenta
- Description
- A broad-leaved herb grown for its starchy underground corm, one of the oldest cultivated root crops in the tropics.
- As food
- The corm is boiled, roasted, or pounded and eaten as a starchy staple; the young leaves are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable in many parts of Africa.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from cormels or corm cuttings; grown in moist, fertile soil or flooded fields, reaching maturity in 6-12 months.
Spreading Hogweed, Red Spiderling, Tarvine, Wineflower, Horse Purslane
Boerhavia diffusa
- Description
- Punarnava is a creeping perennial herb with purplish, hairy stems, unequal opposite leaves, small pink-violet flowers, sticky fruits, and fleshy taproots.
- Medicinal uses
- It is a renowned Ayurvedic rejuvenative and diuretic used for kidney and liver disorders, inflammation, pain, respiratory and digestive issues, skin diseases, and general vitality.
- As food
- Young leaves and shoots are eaten as a nutritious leafy vegetable, while the roots are occasionally consumed, providing minerals and essential vitamins.
- Ritual uses
- Though not central to formal rituals, Punarnava is regarded as a sacred healing herb symbolizing renewal and is sometimes used in health-restorative and cleansing practices.
- Cultivation
- The plant grows easily from seed in sunny, well-drained soils with minimal care and can be cultivated in fields or containers, with leaves harvested regularly and roots at maturity.
Waterberry, Water pear, Woodland waterberry
Syzygium guineense
- Description
- Syzygium guineense is commonly called waterberry or water pear in English and is known by many local African names across West, East, and Central Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Various parts of the tree are traditionally used to treat digestive disorders, infections such as malaria and worms, skin wounds, women’s health conditions, and pain, though the bark must be used carefully due to its potency.
- As food
- The tree produces edible purple-black fruits that are eaten fresh or processed into drinks or vinegar and provide vitamin C and essential minerals.
- Ritual uses
- In some African traditions, the plant is used for spiritual protection and healing rituals, while its bark, wood, and smoke serve dyeing, construction, canoe making, and household purposes.
- Cultivation
- It is mainly propagated by fresh seeds that must be sown immediately, as well as by transplanting wild seedlings or using cuttings and air-layering
Bell peppers, chili peppers, sweet peppers and red or green peppers
Capsicum annuum
- Description
- Capsicum annuum is a highly diverse and economically important pepper species native to the Americas, encompassing sweet and hot varieties cultivated worldwide.
- Medicinal uses
- Traditionally and clinically, C. annuum is used to stimulate digestion, relieve pain through capsaicin-based treatments, and support metabolic and cardiovascular health.
- As food
- Peppers are widely consumed fresh, cooked, dried, or processed into spices, sauces, and pickles, and are valued for their high vitamin and antioxidant content.
- Ritual uses
- Historically important in Mesoamerican medicine and culture, peppers have long held ceremonial, protective, and dietary significance across many societies.
- Cultivation
- The crop thrives in warm, sunny conditions with fertile, well-drained soil, is grown from seed, and can be harvested at different ripeness stages depending on desired flavor.
Black sorcery plant; Savanna fadogia
Fadogia agrestis
- Description
- A savanna shrub whose root is widely known in Nigerian traditional medicine for its reputed effect on male vigour and libido.
- Medicinal uses
- Root preparations are used across West Africa, particularly Nigeria, for fertility and libido; also studied for antimicrobial activity, alongside safety concerns at high doses.
- Cultivation
- A shrub of savanna woodland.
West African sarsaparilla; Prickly smilax
Smilax anceps
- Description
- A woody, scrambling climbing vine with prickly stems, known as West African sarsaparilla.
- Medicinal uses
- Root and leaf preparations are used across West Africa as a general healing remedy, for blood disorders, pain relief, and rheumatism.
- As food
- Leaf and root are used in some areas as a flavoring in sauces and condiments.
- Cultivation
- A wild climbing vine of forest and savanna margins.
African scarlet eggplant; Garden egg
Solanum aethiopicum
- Description
- A cultivated shrubby vegetable crop related to the common eggplant, grown for both its fruit and leaves.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and fruit are used in West African traditional medicine to help manage blood pressure and aid digestion.
- As food
- The fruit (garden egg) is eaten raw or cooked, and the leaves are cooked as a vegetable.
- Cultivation
- Widely cultivated as an annual or short-lived perennial vegetable crop across West Africa.
Cotton
Gossypium spp.
- Description
- Cotton (Gossypium spp.) consists of shrubby plants with lobed leaves, large yellow or white flowers, and bolls that release white fibers around black seeds, containing the toxic compound gossypol.
- Medicinal uses
- Traditionally, cotton parts are used for reproductive, gastrointestinal, skin, and pain-related treatments, though their use requires caution due to gossypol’s serious toxicity and contraceptive effects.
- As food
- Refined cottonseed oil is widely used for cooking, while properly processed seeds may be eaten, but unrefined seeds and products are toxic.
- Ritual uses
- Cotton flowers and plant parts are used in traditional dye-making and spiritual healing practices in some cultures.
- Cultivation
- Cotton is grown from seed in warm climates on well-drained fertile soils and harvested by collecting mature bolls for fiber and seed processing.
Swamp lily; Crinum lily; Ceylon crinum
Crinum zeylanicum
- Description
- A bulbous perennial herb with strap-like leaves and showy, white-and-pink-striped lily flowers, growing from a large underground bulb in damp or swampy ground.
- Medicinal uses
- The bulb is used externally in Nigeria for skin troubles and ulcers, and its juice is used for convulsions and epilepsy. The bulb is toxic if taken internally in quantity, causing severe diarrhoea — not for informal use.
- Cultivation
- Grows wild from a large bulb in swampy or seasonally wet ground.
Yellow oleander; Lucky nut; Exile oil plant
Thevetia neriifolia
- Description
- A small ornamental tree or shrub with narrow glossy leaves and funnel-shaped yellow flowers; all parts, especially the seeds, are highly toxic.
- Medicinal uses
- Traditionally used in carefully prepared small doses for skin conditions, wounds, and as a purgative; its cardiac glycosides have been studied for cardiotonic and anticancer activity. All parts are highly poisonous — ingesting the seeds or fruit can be fatal, and it should never be used without expert preparation.
- Cultivation
- Grown widely as an ornamental hedge and garden shrub; propagated easily from seed or cuttings and tolerates poor, dry soils.
Mango; Common mango
Mangifera indica
- Description
- A large evergreen fruit tree with a dense canopy, grown throughout the tropics for its sweet, fleshy fruit.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, leaves, and seed kernels are used in traditional medicine for diarrhoea and toothache; leaf infusions are taken for coughs and hypertension in parts of Africa.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten fresh or used in juices, jams, and dried snacks; unripe fruit is used in pickles and chutneys.
- Cultivation
- Propagated from seed or, for named varieties, by grafting; a long-lived tree that begins fruiting after about 4-6 years and thrives in warm climates with a distinct dry season for flowering.
mango tree
Mangifera indica
- Description
- A large, evergreen tree (10–45 m) with a dense dome-shaped canopy, stout trunk, simple lanceolate leaves, small fragrant flowers, fleshy variable-shaped fruits with a fibrous stone, and a deep taproot system.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves, bark, seeds, fruit, flowers, and gum are used in traditional medicine for diabetes, blood pressure, digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, diarrhea, dysentery, scurvy, and skin problems.
- As food
- Ripe fruits eaten fresh or processed (juices, jams, desserts); unripe fruit used in pickles, chutneys, and powders; seeds for starch and famine food; young leaves occasionally as vegetables.
- Ritual uses
- Sacred in Hinduism, used in doorway hangings, Kalash puja, ceremonial fires, and symbolizes prosperity, love, fertility, and immortality.
- Cultivation
- Thrives in tropical/subtropical regions, prefers well-drained loamy soil, propagated by grafting or seeds, requires moderate water, spaced 10–12 m apart, fruits harvested 3–6 months after flowering.
Climbing paullinia; African soapberry
Paullinia pinnata
- Description
- A woody climbing vine of the soapberry family with compound leaves and winged leaf stalks, common in West African forest and savanna.
- Medicinal uses
- Widely used across West and Central Africa as a wound-healing and bleeding-stopping agent; leaf and root decoctions treat diarrhoea, stomach-ache, malaria, and bacterial infections such as typhoid and gonorrhoea.
- Cultivation
- A wild climbing vine of forest margins and savanna, not commonly cultivated.
Crowfoot grass; Goose grass; Egyptian finger grass
Dactyloctenium aegyptium
- Description
- A low, spreading annual grass with finger-like seed heads radiating from the stem tip, common on cultivated and disturbed ground.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and whole-plant preparations are used in traditional medicine as a cooling remedy for mild fevers and as a poultice for skin irritation.
- As food
- Grazed as pasture and cut for hay; the seeds have occasionally been used as a famine food.
- Cultivation
- A fast-growing, drought-tolerant weed of farmland, roadsides, and sandy soils, spreading readily by seed.
African protea; Madi protea
Protea madiensis
- Description
- A woodland shrub or small tree of the protea family, with leathery leaves and large creamy flower heads, native to the savanna woodlands of tropical Africa.
- Cultivation
- A wild shrub of Sudanian and Zambezian woodland, not cultivated.
African pavetta; Wild pavetta
Pavetta corymbosa
- Description
- A savanna shrub of the coffee family, related to other Pavetta species used across West Africa in traditional medicine.
- Medicinal uses
- Pavetta corymbosa extracts have shown antibacterial activity in laboratory studies; related Pavetta species are used across West and Central Africa for fever, malaria, and stomach pain.
- Cultivation
- A wild shrub of savanna and woodland.
False sesame; Wild sesame; Iburu
Ceratotheca sesamoides
- Description
- A branching annual herb with tubular pink-white flowers, closely related to cultivated sesame and widely gathered as a leafy vegetable across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Medicinal uses
- Used in parts of Nigeria to treat diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, snakebite, and skin diseases, and to ease childbirth in humans and livestock.
- As food
- Young leaves and flowers are cooked as a mucilaginous vegetable sauce; seeds are crushed into a paste eaten with beans or cassava.
- Cultivation
- Grows wild and is also semi-cultivated in home gardens and fields across the savanna zone.
Dingy gladiolus; Wild gladiolus
Gladiolus actinomorphantus
- Description
- A wild cormous herb of the iris family with sword-shaped leaves and a spike of flowers, found in savanna grassland.
- Cultivation
- A wild geophyte that grows from an underground corm, dying back to the corm in the dry season.
Mistletoe; African mistletoe
Loranthus spp
- Description
- A hemi-parasitic shrub that grows attached to the branches of host trees, drawing water and minerals from its host while photosynthesizing its own leaves.
- Medicinal uses
- African mistletoe species are widely used in traditional medicine for hypertension, diabetes, stomach ailments, wounds, and malaria; the specific properties vary depending on the host tree and exact species.
- Cultivation
- Not cultivated — spreads naturally when birds deposit sticky seeds on host tree branches.
African rosewood, Senegal rosewood, African barwood, African kino tree, African teak.
Pterocarpus erinaceus
- Description
- Pterocarpus erinaceus is a highly valued savanna tree in West and Central Africa, important for timber, medicine, livestock fodder, and cultural uses, but now endangered due to overexploitation.
- Medicinal uses
- The bark, leaves, roots, and resin are traditionally used to treat diarrhea, fever, coughs, wounds, infections, and inflammatory conditions.
- As food
- The foliage serves as an important dry-season fodder for livestock, while leaves and seeds are occasionally consumed by humans in some communities.
- Ritual uses
- The wood and resin play key roles in traditional music, dyeing, body adornment, and spiritual practices such as protection rituals and marriage ceremonies.
- Cultivation
- The tree is slow-growing but drought- and fire-tolerant, propagated mainly by seed, managed through coppicing and pollarding, and contributes to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
Ethiopian pepper; African pepper; Grains of Selim
Xylopia aethiopica
- Description
- A tall forest tree bearing distinctive twisted, dark bean-like pods, valued across West Africa as a spice.
- Medicinal uses
- Fruits, seeds, and bark are used traditionally for coughs, respiratory infections, rheumatism, malaria, and menstrual and fertility complaints; crushed seeds are applied to the forehead for headache.
- As food
- The dried pods are used whole or ground as a peppery, musky spice in soups, stews, and smoked-fish preparation.
- Cultivation
- A forest tree, harvested from the wild and increasingly grown in home gardens and agroforestry systems.
Billy goat weed, goat weed, or white weed
Ageratum conyzoides
- Description
- An erect annual herb (up to 1 m) with soft hairy stems and leaves, opposite ovate serrated leaves, small fluffy purple/blue/pink/white flowers, shallow fibrous roots, and a pungent “goat-like” odor.
- Medicinal uses
- Used for wound healing, skin diseases, respiratory ailments, fever, gastrointestinal issues, pain relief, malaria, uterine infections, eye washes, and hair care.
- As food
- Occasionally eaten as a leafy vegetable rich in protein and minerals; used for anemia, but contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids if overconsumed.
- Ritual uses
- Believed to offer protection against spiritual poisoning, used in cleansing and protective rituals.
- Cultivation
- Hardy, fast-growing, invasive; propagated by seeds, grows in any soil under sun or partial shade; leaves used fresh for medicine or teas.
Lannea; Grapes of Africa
Lannea spp
- Description
- A small to medium tree of the mango family bearing clusters of small, grape-like edible fruit, widespread across West African woodland and savanna.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark and root preparations of Lannea species are used across Africa for wounds, gastrointestinal complaints, fever, malaria, and gynaecological disorders.
- As food
- The ripe fruit is eaten fresh or made into juice or jam; young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.
- Cultivation
- A wild savanna and woodland tree, sometimes retained or protected in farmland for its fruit.
Mistletoe; European mistletoe; Common mistletoe
Viscum album
- Description
- A hemi-parasitic evergreen shrub that grows in rounded clumps on the branches of host trees, with paired leathery leaves and sticky white berries.
- Medicinal uses
- In its native temperate range this species is used in traditional and complementary medicine for hypertension, arthritis, and epilepsy, and fermented extracts are used as an adjunct cancer therapy; the berries are toxic if eaten. Note: Viscum album is native to temperate Europe and Asia, so the mistletoe locally known by this name may be a related African species rather than true Viscum album — species identity should be treated as uncertain.
- Cultivation
- Not cultivated — spreads naturally when birds carry its sticky seeds to new host tree branches.
Locust Bean Tree
Parkia biglobosa
- Description
- A large tree that produces nutritious seeds and pods.
- Medicinal uses
- The bark is used for treating infections and wounds.
- As food
- The fermented seeds (dawadawa) are used as a flavoring in soups.
Eggplant; Aubergine; Brinjal; Garden egg
Solanum melongena
- Description
- An erect, branching annual grown for its glossy, variably shaped fruit, a major vegetable crop across the tropics and subtropics.
- Medicinal uses
- Leaves and fruit are used in some traditional practices for wound care and as a mild diuretic; the fruit is nutritionally valued for its fibre and antioxidant content.
- As food
- The fruit is cooked in soups, stews, and fried dishes; it is a widely grown vegetable crop across Nigeria.
- Cultivation
- Grown from seed in nurseries and transplanted to the field; matures in about 3-4 months and prefers warm, well-drained soil.
Camel's Foot Tree, Monkey Bread, Wild Bauhinia, Picture-Frame Tree
- Description
- Piliostigma thonningii, known as Camel's Foot Tree or Monkey Bread, is a vital African medicinal plant used for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant treatments, addressing ailments like fever, cough, dysentery, skin issues, and snakebites, with roots, bark, leaves, and pods used for various preparations.
- Medicinal uses
- Medicinal Uses & Properties
Respiratory Issues: Treats coughs, bronchitis, and chest complaints.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Used for dysentery, diarrhea, stomachaches, and gastritis.
Infections: Applied for skin diseases, wounds, chronic ulcers, and microbial infections.
Fever & Pain: Helps with fevers, toothaches, and joint pains.
Other Uses: Remedies for snakebites, hookworms, malaria, gonorrhea, and HIV opportunistic diseases.
Bioactivity: Possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiarrheal properties, attributed to flavonoids, tannins, and other phytochemicals.
Plant Parts Used
Roots & Bark: Decoctions for respiratory and gastrointestinal issues.
Leaves: Applied topically for wounds and burns.
Pods: Pulp around seeds is edible; pods and seeds yield dyes.
- As food
- A solution of boiled leaves used in fermenting palp.
Camel's foot; Thonning's bauhinia
Piliostigma thonningii
- Description
- A small to medium savanna tree with distinctive two-lobed, camel-footprint-shaped leaves.
- Medicinal uses
- Bark, roots, leaves, and flowers are widely used across sub-Saharan Africa for malaria, respiratory infections, wounds, toothache, stomach-ache, and to manage prolonged menstruation and haemorrhage.
- As food
- The sweet pod pulp is eaten by children and travellers and can be pounded into a porridge flour; pods and leaves are also used as livestock fodder.
- Cultivation
- A hardy tree of savanna woodland, tolerant of fire, drought, and poor soils.
