| Warburgia ugandensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Canellales |
| Family: | Canellaceae |
| Genus: | Warburgia |
| Species: | W. ugandensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Warburgia ugandensis Sprague |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Warburgia breyeri Pott |
|
Warburgia ugandensis, also known as Uganda greenheart, is a species of evergreen tree native to Africa. The wood is resistant to insect attack and very strong. It was commonly used for the yoke pole of ox-wagons, the Disselboom. Early Indian immigrants to Kenya, working on the construction of the railway, used the leaves to flavour their curries before the chilli plant was commonly introduced. The flavour is fiercely hot and subtly different to chillies. Widely used medicinally, including as a treatment for VD by Maasai gentlemen, who tie a cylinder of bark around the requisite part of the body that troubles them.During arid times when food is scarce,pregnant elephants eat the leaves of this tree and they abort.this reduces dependency for food. chewing the bark of this tree eases toothache