Description

Crested Fever Nut commonly known as grey nicker, nicker bean, or knicker nut, is a species of flowering plant in the senna tribe, Caesalpinia, that has a pantropical distribution. It is a liana that reaches a length of 6 m (20 ft) or more and scrambles over other vegetation. The stems are covered in curved spines. Its 2 cm (0.8 in) grey seeds, known as nickernuts, are buoyant and durable enough to be dispersed by ocean currents.

Characteristics:

Crested Fever Nut is a Large climber with numerous recurved prickles. Leaves are double-compound, alternate, up to 30 cm long, with 2-6 pairs of sidestalks. Leaflets are 4-6, opposite, ovate, tip pointed, margin entire. Rachis and stem are armed with recurved prickles. The flowers are yellow, borne in axillary, simple or panicled racemes, and about 1 cm long. Flowers have 10 stamens, with woolly filaments. Fruits are ellipsoid, flat, beaked; seed solitary, ovoid and black. The branches are armed with numerous scattered sharp, recurved prickles, especially on the petiole and rachis of the leaves. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use and for the oil obtained from its seed.

Medicinal Uses:

The leaves, fruits and roots are antiperiodic and tonic. The root is also considered a diuretic, and useful in the treatment of kidney stones and bladder stones. Bonducin, a bitter extract obtained in generous quantities from the seed cotyledons, is commonly known as ‘poor man’s quinine’ because it is used as a treatment for malaria.  A decoction of crushed seeds is used as an emetic and is credited with antidysenteric properties. The seeds are used in the treatment of colic. The fruits are applied externally in the treatment of rashes.