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Accession Data:

Balanites maughamii Sprague

  • Common Name: Torchwood
  • Family: Zygophyllaceae R.Br.

  • Country of Origin: S. Tanzania to S. Africa
  • Habitat: largely confined to the eastern Sand Forests - tropical dry forest type

  • Description: 10-20m, smooth grey bark, dark grey-green leathery leaves, small yellowish-green fl Sp, fruit similar to large dates.
  • Uses: The Balanites tree is used locally for many products: the wood is used for making tools and furniture, the fruit for sweets and alcoholic beverages, and the kernels for cooking oil and medicines. The stem of the tree contains steroidal saponins which have been shown to have an insect antifeedant and molluscicide properties

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • Culture: Sow seed in Spring
  • USDA Zone: 11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 199900551
  • Source: Lisa Palmer - Dartmouth - ex Silverhill
  • Accession Date: 09-30-1999
  • Bench: 2113 - MED:Fynbos E
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 03-03-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid I
  • Order: Zygophyllales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Zygophyllaceae
  • SubFamily: Tribuloideae
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Tanzania / Malawi / Mozambique / Zambia / Zimbabwe / Caprivi Strip / KwaZulu-Natal / Swaziland / Northern Provinces

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.
  2. WCSP (2017). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.
  3. Balanites maughamii at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

data regenerated on Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:18:16 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

No default accession image assigned

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Zygophyllaceae

Subfamily Larreoideae

  • Larrea tridentata

Subfamily Tribuloideae

  • Balanites maughamii

Subfamily Zygophylloideae
Tribe Larreoideae

  • Guaiacum sanctum
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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