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Fever tree / Naivasha thorn tree
Scientific name:
Acacia xanthophloea
Order/Family:
Fabaceae
Local names:
Boran (Hwacho dima); Kamba (Kimweya, Musewa, Mwea, Mweya); Kikuyu (Murera); Kipsigis (Ochmnyaliliet); Luo (Kuth ataro); Maasai (Olerai); Marakwet (Reno); Meru (Murera); Taveta (Mwelela);
Introduction
General Distribution:
The tree is spread from Kenya south to South Africa. It is often found in clusters where the water table is high, beside lakes or rivers, 600 - 2, 300 m, often on black cotton soils.


General Information about the Tree:
The bark extract was traditionally used for treatment of malaria. It is also a useful tree for protection of water courses and is good in pastures due to its light crown. The seeds and wood are susceptible to insect damage.


Biophysical Limits:
Altitude ranges from 600-2 100 m above sea level.
A. xanthophloea prefers sandy soils.
Fever tree
© Bo Tengnas
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Propagation and Tree Management
Seedlings, wildings or direct sowing at site may be used to propagate it. This is one of the fastest-growing thorn-tree species in Africa. It can withstand lopping and if planted as an ornamental, trees should be planted in groups of up to 5 for the best effect. Though its root system is not aggressive, due to the large size of its taproot it should not be planted close to buildings


Products:
  • Fuel; it is a good source of firewood and charcoal.
  • Timber; its wood is hard, heavy, pale brown with a red tinge. It can produce poles and posts. However, it should be seasoned before use, as it is liable to crack
  • Medicine: Bark extracts are used for medicinal purposes; its roots and powdered bark of the stem can be used as an emetic and as a prophylactic against malaria.
  • Dead fence; dry branches are used as fence and is effective due to the thorns.
  • Fodder: Foliage and pods provide food for livestock; young branches and leaves are eaten by elephants and the leaves and pods by giraffe and vervet monkeys.
  • Apiculture: Trees produce good bee forage.
  • Fuel: A. xanthophloea is planted as a source of firewood, although it produces a gum that leaves a thick, black, tarlike deposit when burnt.


Services:
  • Soil improver; improves soil fertility by nitrogen fixation.
  • Prevents soil erosion along rivers; it is good at riverbank stabilization.
  • Ornamental; it is largely planted at the coast as an ornamental tree.
  • Shade or shelter: A. xanthophloea provides nesting sites for birds.
  • Nitrogen fixing: A. xanthophloea fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
  • Boundary or barrier or support: Trees are planted as live fences.
Fever tree products
© Bo Tengnas
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Pests and Diseases
The seeds and wood are highly susceptible to insect damage. The vervet monkeys often eat young pods making them not readily available from the natural stands.
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Information Source Links
  • ICRAF. 1992. A selection of useful trees and shrubs for Kenya: Notes on their identification, propagation and management for use by farming and pastoral communities. ICRAF.
  • Albrecht J. ed. 1993. Tree seed hand book of Kenya. GTZ Forestry Seed Center Muguga, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Fever tree
© Bo Tengnas