Celastraceae FAMILY

Gymnosporia senegalensis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Though the leaves are widely used in medicines they are free enough of toxic substances not to kill laboratory test mice, unlike the root-bark which can cause a 40% mortality[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. A leaf-infusion does however intoxicate fish[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].

Botanical Description

Gymnosporia senegalensis is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 8 metres tall with a bole that is usually around 25 cm in diameter, with some specimens up to 70 cm[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine etc. The root is a common market commodity in Dakar markets, where it is considered one of the more active drugs in the Senegalese pharmacopoeia[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The plant has good potential for use as a pioneer species when restoring woodland in drier areas.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeTropical Africa - widespread in savannah areas.

HabitatSavannah areas from sea level to montane regions[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. Open bush, savannah, coastal and dune regions, near swamps or river banks, occasionaly in thickets on dunes[ 774 Title Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses. Publication Author von Maydell H. Publisher Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany Year 1990 ISBN 3-8236-1198-4 Description A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses. ].