Sickle Bush

Dichrostachys cinerea (Sickle Bush) – Naturally occurring

The name “sickle bush” comes from the shape of the seed which resembles a sickle.

Other Common Names:

Chinese lantern tree, Marabou Thorn, Princess Earrings, Kalahari Christmas Tree.

The name ‘Chinese lantern’ comes from the stunning pink and yellow flowers, which are seen between October to February.

In Botswana it is known as Moselesele.

Another name is the ‘Acacia puncture tyre’. It is not, however, part of the acacia family. It does have extremely hard spines capable

Sickle Bush spines

of puncturing a tyre. The spines are modified stems rather than modified leaves (which you would find in an acacia) and this makes them even harder to break.

Love it or Hate it.

It is debatable if this tree is a pest or a resourceful plant species. It can be an invasive species that can form very dense thickets making areas impenetrable, especially in overgrazed areas. Due to its spines it can make areas inaccessible for both humans and livestock.

The Sickle Bush takes a lot of nutrients from the soil so plants around the tree don’t grow well.

The species can regenerate from the smallest amount of root or through its root suckers.

The seeds can survive for long periods of time in the soil.

The sickle bush has been widely introduced around the world, mainly as an ornamental tree or for erosion control, soil improvement, re-vegetation, land reclamation, hedging and live fencing.

Uses of the Sickle Bush

Wood:

• It is considered to be termite resistant and has been used for a wide range of purposes including posts, exterior fittings and fences.
• Enclosures made with the tree prevent livestock and other animals from gaining entry to vegetable gardens, and it is also used to enclose livestock to keep them safe at night.
• It is more commonly used for walking sticks, tool handles, spears, milk pots and smoking jars.
• It makes excellent fire wood and the making of charcoal as it burns slowly.

Other uses:

• The inner bark and debarked roots yields a strong fibre that can be used for various applications such as twine and used for strong weaving of baskets.
• All parts of the tree are used in numerous medicinal products such as the treatment of headaches, toothaches, stings, sore eyes, leprosy, epilepsy, as a diuretic, elephantitis, syphilis and gonorrhea
• The tree is also used for dye and honey.
• The roots are used as a local unaesthetic for snake bites, scorpion stings and toothache. In Botswana, parts of the tree are used as a tapeworm cure.
• It also has an antihistaminic value to it
• It can also be used as a contraceptive for women, as laxative, and for massage of fractures.

Animals

• The leaves and seeds, which are very nutritious are loved by Livestock, baboons, nyala and impala.
• The Flowers attract insects, insects attract insectivorous birds like the fork-tailed drongo and bee-eaters.
• The flowers are also the hosts for two known butterfly species larvae – the satyr charaxes butterfly or satyr emperor butterfly (charaxes ethalion ethalion) and the topaz blue or topaz-spotted blue (Azanus jesous).