ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecology, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Marula Nut. Fruits, the size of plums, have a pleasant flavor and are a source of food for parrots and mammals. Reported to be astringent, marula is a folk remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, malaria, and proctitis. Because of their abundant fruits, the trees are widespread fertility charms in Africa. Trees are very plentiful in the forests where they grow spontaneously, and fruits are collected as needed. Because of its local economic importance, trees are usually preserved by Bantu and others, even on cultivated land. In Transvaal also, the trees are protected. Sap of the tree could also be converted to ethanol. Fungi known to attack marula are Cercospora caffra and Gloeosporium sclerocaryae. Trees are host of a small beetle of which the highly poisonous grubs are used by Bushmen as an ingredient for arrow poisons.
