Summary: Pterocarpus erinaceus (barwood) is a plant in the Fabaceae family. Verdica documents 0 traditional uses, 0 phytochemical compounds, and 0 herb-drug interactions for this species.
A native to Sheila region of West Africa, African Kino (Pterocarpus erinaceus) grows about 11 m tall and 15 cm in trunk diameter. It is a dioecious tree with nitrogen-fixing capability and used as fodder for farm animals. The bark is dark and scaly. The bole is often straight and cylindrical but can be twisted and fluted if grown in poor conditions. The flowers are yellow and fruits are winged pods. The leaves and seeds are cooked and eaten. African Kino is used medicinally for wound healing, as aphrodisiac, and as treatment of fever, coughs, diarrhea, eye complaints, ulcers, sores, intestinal worm infections, gonorrhea, leprosy, hemorrhage, anemia, etc. Meanwhile, the wood is used for woodworking, charcoal and as fuel wood. Red sap can be obtained from the tree, known as kino, which is used as a dye.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — drought tolerant once established |
| Soil | Well-drained; nitrogen-fixing — minimal fertilizer needed |
| Hardiness Zone | Varies widely (USDA 2-11) |
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