Acridocarpus excelsus is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 15 metres tall.
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild as a local source of dyestuff and medicines.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Humid littoral forest to dry deciduous forest and thickets, where it is usually found on dry, rocky and sandy soils, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,250 metres.

Cultivation Status

Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is usually found on dry, rocky and sandy soils in the wild.
The tree is somewhat resistant to bush and forest fires.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is rich in tannins and is astringent.
A decoction is used as a treatment against diarrhoea and dysentery.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

The bark is rich in tannins.
A deep red dye can be obtained from the bark.
The bark can be used fresh or dried; it is pounded and then boiled for 2 - 3 hours. The resultant decoction can be used to dye fibres deep red by simple immersion.
The fibres can also be mordanted afterwards by steeping them in a solution of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) ash, which produces a fast red-brown.

Propagation

Seed -