Parkia bicolor
StarParkia bicolor
Synonyms: Parkia agboensis, Parkia klainei, Parkia zenkeri
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In West and Central Africa Parkia bicolor is used both as a food and a medicine. The fermented seeds serve as a condiment for seasoning sauces and soups, and the fruit pulp is occasionally eaten. Medicinally, a bark maceration is applied for eye complaints and a bark decoction for toothache; dried powdered bark is used to promote the healing of wounds and sores; a bark vapour bath treats rheumatism; leaf pulp is rubbed on smallpox and chickenpox; and the roots are used for measles and other ailments (Burkill; PROTA). Its documented use of bark powder to heal wounds and sores supports a vulnerary classification.
Botanical Description
Parkia bicolor is a large tree of the legume family reaching up to 30 m or more, with a straight bole, sometimes buttressed, and a wide, open, spreading crown. The leaves are large and bipinnately compound, bearing many pairs of pinnae and numerous small leaflets, with conspicuous glands on the leaf stalk. The tiny flowers are massed into dense, two-coloured, club- or ball-shaped heads borne on long pendulous stalks, the upper fertile and lower sterile portions differing in colour. The fruit is a long, flattened, dark pod containing seeds embedded in pulp. It occurs in the moist lowland rainforests of West and Central Africa, growing in primary and secondary forest and often retained near settlements for its shade.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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