376. Psorospermum febrifugum Spach (Hyperic.) 



Mtsiloti (N), msilanyama (Y). 



A shrub or small tree, branchlets usually rusty tomentose when young, some- 

 times glabrous, flowers small, green, white or yellow, with small round, red fruits, 

 the bark has an unpleasant smell. 



The roots are used for wounds. The bark is pounded and mixed with castor oil 

 and used for ointment to cure skin diseases, mphere. The aCewa and possibly other 

 tribes believe that the shrub has protective properties and hence when they are 

 building a new village, they bury some of its roots at all four points of the compass 

 surrounding the village to protect it against witches and lions. For this reason 

 the wood is not used for other purposes nor is it burnt for firewood. 



Ref. 7; 15; 26. 



377. Pterocarpus angolensis DC. (Papil.) African Teak; Bloodwood; Sealing 



wax tree. 



Mlombwa (G), mtumbati (Y), (Nk). 



A medium-sized, beautiful tree up to 60 ft. high with long bole, bark, rough 

 almost black in colour. Whenever the tree is cut or damaged, the red sap exudes 

 and dries into a red mass, hence the common names. Leaves piimate, flowers in 

 October or November, with clusters of deep yellow pea-like flowers, sweet scented 

 and containing honey, appearing before the new leaves come; very characteristic 

 fruit, an orbicular pod, 3J ins. in diameter broadly winged with a tuft of bristles in 

 the centre over the cavity where the single seed lies embedded. Found characteristi- 

 cally where there is decomposing rock, cifomboti, near the surface, mostly in low 

 foothill areas but also at Lake levels. 



A very durable timber and one of the most valuable found in Africa. It is a 

 good substitute for Indian teak, which it somewhat resembles, although not so 

 straight -grained. It works well and takes a fine polish but sometimes is apt to be 

 somewhat cross-grained and therefore difficult to finish except by scraping. It 

 shrinks remarkably little in drying from the green condition. It is very resistant 

 to termites and decay. It is used for high class furniture, joinery, naves and other 

 purposes. Locally it has been used very successfully in boat-building because of 

 its low shrinkage and durability. The bark is valuable for tanning and the Greek 

 fishermen at Fort Johnston used it in the 1930s until they discovered they had to 

 buy the whole tree if they wanted to strip the bark. It will grow from stake if 

 planted in November (Kota Kota). 



Ref. 9; 14; 22; 26; 27. 



378. P. polyanthus Harms (Papil.). 



Ndiraniya (Y), mlelaniya, nacase (N). 



Tree to 40 ft. tall with irregular crown, leaflets 13-17 oblong to ovate or oval, 

 panicles ample many-flowered, flowers yellow and orange, pod obliquely oval to 

 semiorbicular broadly -winged, central part thickened, without bristles. 



Timber probably durable and useful, easy to work. 



Ref. 14; 26. 



379. P. rotundifolius (Sond.) Druce. 



Mbalisa, balitsa, mpale (N), mlelesi (Y), mbongosi (C). 



A tree, leaflets 3-5 broadly ovate shining silky beneath or on both sides, pod 

 elliptical without bristles. Widely but sparsely distributed at middle altitudes 

 often on alluvial soils. 



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