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to ensure an easy childbirth and its leaf poultices are applied for a retained placenta.
Its Zulu name means: “that which puts out the fire” (Johnson, 2004).
Data from ethnobotanical survey
The plant has to be ground and mixed with cold water, and the person has to bath in
the mixture. The plant is mixed with other unknown plant parts and water then
administered orally or as an enema for sores. The dose was not specified (Dindi
2007, pers. comm).
Chemical content
Palmitic acid has been detected in this plant (Yff et al., 2002).
3.2.14 Scientific name : Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst
Zulu name : uMganu
Common name : Marula tree
Figure 3.17 Sclerocarya birrea with its fruits and the mature tree.
(www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/sclerobirr.htm).
Figure 3.18 The leaves and bark of Sclerocarya birrea.
(www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/sclerobirr.htm).
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