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Knob wood (Zanthoxylum chalybeum)

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 

Kundanyoka knobwood, knob wood [English]; pupwechulu, pupwe [Bemba]; ntaleyedungu [Luganda]; chipupa [Lunda]; mlunguchulu [Nyanja]; mukundanyoka [Shona]; mjafari [Swahili] (Orwa et al., 2009)

Synonyms 

Fagara chalybea (Engl.) Engl., Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl., Fagara bukobensis Engl., Fagara fischeri Engl., Fagara merkeri Engl., Fagara mpwapwensis Engl., Zanthoxylum olitorium Engl., Fagara olitoria (Engl.) Engl., Fagara homblei De Wild. (CJB, 2010)

Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 

Knob wood (Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. var. chalybeum) is a spiny deciduous shrub or tree up to 12 m high, with a rounded but open crown. It has compound leaves consisting usually of 3 to 5 pairs of shiny leaflets plus a terminal leaflet, with a strong citrus smell when crushed. The trunk has characteristic large, conical, woody knobs with sharp thorns. The fruit is spherical, about 5 mm in diameter, reddish-brown, splitting to allow the shiny black seeds to protrude (Orwa et al., 2009).

Zanthoxylum chalybeum is used throughout Eastern and Southern Africa for its aromatic leaves, shoots and fruits, which are used to make a variety of tea-like beverages and decoctions. It is also widely popular as a medicinal plant for humans and animals and is sometimes over-exploited for these properties (Maundu et al., 1999; Mingochi et al., 1997). Its potential anti-plasmodial and anti-trypanosomal properties are currently being investigated (Engeu et al., 2008; Nibret et al., 2010). Zanthoxylum chalybeum also provides good firewood and hard durable timber (Orwa et al., 2009).

Distribution 

Zanthoxylum chalybeum is native to Eastern and Southern Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe). It can be found at medium and low altitudes, from sea level to 1600 m, under 750-1500 mm annual rainfall. It grows in dry woodland or grassland, often on termite mounds (Orwa et al., 2009).

Environmental impact 

Its extensive use as a source of valued food and medicinal products endangers it in certain areas (Maundu et al., 1999; Mingochi et al., 1997).

Nutritional aspects
Ruminants 

Zanthoxylum chalybeum is mostly known for its multiple uses in ethno-veterinary medicine (Gradé, 2008; Maundu et al., 1999), and scarce information is available regarding its uses as a fodder plant. Early observations suggest that the leaves and fruits are eaten by camels and goats throughout the year and that the branches are sometimes lopped for feed (Dougall et al., 1958; Maundu et al., 1999; Orwa et al., 2009).

Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 10.3 1
Crude fibre % DM 19.3 1
Ether extract % DM 3.3 1
Ash % DM 6.8 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.2 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 17.0 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 4.7 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Dougall et al., 1958

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:10

References
References 
Datasheet citation 

Tran G., 2015. Knob wood (Zanthoxylum chalybeum). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/156 Last updated on May 11, 2015, 14:32

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)
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