Carpodiptera africana is a shrub or tree, usually growing from 1 - 13.5 metres tall but sometimes growing up to 20 metres.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitat

Coastal areas, in open wooded grassland; dry forest and forest edges; dense bushland where it is a colonizer; also on coral limestone, in sandy soils and fringing swamp forest; from sea level to 100 metres.
To 550 metres, occasionally 900 metres.

Cultivation Status

Wild

Cultivation Details

The tree coppices well.
The flowers are usually dioecious. Both male and female forms of the plant need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable.
The tender leaves are collected, cut into pieces, washed and cooked alone or mixed with other vegetables such as peas, coconut milk added and then served with ugali or rice.
Used mainly in times of shortage.

Medicinal

An infusion of the roots and stem bark is drunk to treat eye problems and used as a face and eye wash.
A root decoction is taken as an aphrodisiac.

Agroforestry Uses

None Recorded

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark.
The wood bends easily.
It is used in construction and for poles, bows, tool handles and spoons.
The wood is used for fuel.

Propagation

Seed -