Pterocarpus lucens
StarPterocarpus lucens
Synonyms: Lingoum lucens
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Across the Sahel and West Africa, the bark and red kino of Pterocarpus lucens are valued as a strongly astringent remedy: decoctions or macerations of the bark are drunk for diarrhoea and dysentery, used as a mouthwash and gargle for sore gums, toothache, and mouth ulcers, and applied externally as washes or poultices to wounds and skin sores. The dried, powdered bark is also dusted on cuts to staunch bleeding and on slow-healing ulcers, reflecting the tannin-rich, kino-yielding character of the species and its congeners (Burkill, 1995; Neuwinger, 2000).
Botanical Description
Pterocarpus lucens is a small to medium deciduous tree of the legume family characteristic of the Sahelian and Sudanian zones of West and Central Africa, ranging from Senegal and Mauritania eastwards to Sudan and southwards into northern parts of Cameroon and the Central African Republic. It typically reaches six to twelve metres, occasionally taller, with a short crooked bole, an open, irregular crown, and a grey to brown, longitudinally fissured bark that exudes a deep red, astringent kino-like resin when cut. The alternate, imparipinnate leaves bear seven to thirteen glabrous, ovate to elliptic leaflets that are alternate along the rachis. Fragrant yellow papilionate flowers are produced in axillary or terminal racemes at the onset of the rains. The diagnostic fruit is a flattened, indehiscent, circular to broadly oval samara four to six centimetres across, with a thickened seed-bearing centre surrounded by a thin papery wing. The tree is an important component of dry savanna woodlands and a valuable browse species.
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.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Pterocarpus lucens.
No notes yet.