African blackwood  (Dalbergia melanoxylon)

Biology

African blackwood is a deciduous tree, loosing its foliage in the dry season; flowers appear in the second half of the dry season (5). This tree is long-lived and extremely slow-growing (6). African blackwood is a vital component of the African savanna ecosystem; the nodules on the roots fix nitrogen producing a more fertile soil, the leaves provide vital browse for herbivores, and the extensive root system stabilizes the soil (6). Mature African blackwood trees are resistant to fire (6).

Different parts of the tree have been used as herbal remedies over the years; the bark may be used to treat diarrhoea, the root is burnt for a smoke-inhalation cure of headaches and colds, and there are many other traditional uses of this important tree in different areas within its range (3).

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