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Kampala Tree and Palm Directory

Tree Species

Common Name

Tree Description

Tree Uses

English: Wingleaf soap berry, Jaboncillo, Sulluku, Western soapberry, Soap seed, Hawaiiansoap berry .

Whole tree

Bark

Leaves

Fruits

Flowers

+ Tree Species

Sapindus saponaria

+ Tree Family

Sapindaceae

+ Ecology

Wing leaf soap berry is native to the Americas and the Caribbean up to Florida, can be found in Argentina, in the United states of America, Suriname, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico. The growth conditions are moist well drained soils and light conditions which are either full or partial and it also requires organic fertilizers to enhance proper growth. In Kampala, this tree can be found along Mabua road, within Uganda Golf course club, KCCA headquarters, Makerere University among other places.

+ Description

Soap berry is an evergreen tree with a dense, broad, globose crown; usually growing 9 - 15 meters tall with occasional specimens larger. The short bole can be 56cm in diameter and crown spread can reach 25 to 30 feet (7-9 m).

BARK: light brown to grey, finely fissured with flakes that expose the young bark.

LEAVES: pinnately compound, alternate, typically glossy dark green adaxially but sometimes dull light green, paler abaxially, 8-18 inches long; petiole to 3 inches long; rachis to 12 inches long; rachis and petiole sometimes winged especially in young leaves; 4-6 pinnae per each side of rachis. The 4 to 10 pairs of leaflets are oblong to elliptic-lanceolate and entire and 1.5 to 3.2inches (4-9 cm) in length.

FLOWERS: Small, yellowish-white flowers are borne in large terminal or axillary panicles on new growth.

FRUIT: fleshy, translucent yellow-orange drupe. Each drupe contains a single seed.

+ Uses

Medicine: seeds, root bark, stem bark, and fruit. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Sapindus+saponaria

Agroforestry: used when restoring native woodland and also for establishing woodland gardens, provides fodder to the animals.

The fruit is used as a soap and hair shampoo.

The husks contain about 30% saponins and are used in some areas to wash wool and silk with remarkable rejuvenating results.

An insecticide has been made from the crushed seeds.

An oil is obtained from the seed.

Fibres obtained from the inner bark is used to make ropes.

Seeds can be used as beads and for making craftwork, rosaries and buttons.

Wood can be used in building construction, making toys, boxes.

An ornamental tree and it provides shades.

+ Propagation

Seeds, cuttings

+ Management

Soapberry is a moderately slow growing tree. Pruning should be done. Once in the landscape, thinning is required to reduce canopy density. Provide adequate space in the nursery and retain lower branches to facilitate maximum trunk caliper.

+ Remarks

Soapberry is a small to medium ornamental tree good for urban forests and landscape beautification. It has got a rounded crown which is a shade provider during hot days. Where a single trunk is needed especially in the urban setting, removal of lateral branches and trunks is necessary while still in the nursery.