NAME: Dalbergia lactea
FAMILY NAME: Leguminosae
COMMON NAMES: Flat bean
LOCAL NAMES: Ojiji, Abinrere
MORPHOLOGY: Small tree or shrub, generally scandent if support available and sometimes with aid of coiled branchlets or peduncles, 3–9 (–25) m. tall, evergreen; bark purplish-brown (at least when dried) and striate on branches, ultimately brown and rather fibrous.
USEFUL PART(S): Bark, stem-dust,
GENERAL USES: Medicine
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique
WHY IS IT GREEN: Pimples, anthelmintic, ease labour, treat hepatitis, arthritis, rheumatism
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: It is a very good material for decorative work and carvings.
FUN FACT: Dalbergia are important timber trees, valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood, rich in aromatic oils and are notorious for causing allergic reactions due to the presence of sensitizing quinones in the wood.
FURTHER READING:
Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 74 - 75.
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 157.
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 297.
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20.