Useful Trees of East Africa E-Book

Rudolphe Lemmens

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 556

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Useful trees of East Africa, is the second book of the author on indigenous trees for the East African region. The first book, Growth and Cultivation of 85 Indigenous Trees of Uganda, published in 2010 is out of print. This new version describes 130 mostly indigenous species of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Special attention is given to services of the trees to humans and the environment. It includes a complete botanical description, wood properties, wood products, propagation, management, and distribution of the trees. For identification purposes icons are used, local and botanical names are provided, as more than 500 pictures of the trees, made by the author.

Leseprobe

Dedication

I wish to dedicate this book to all people involved in nature conservation so they preserve the East African environment for future generations.

Disclaimer

Every effort is been made to ensure the information in this book is accurate and current. I do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or expense resulting from the use of the information provided by this book. It is essential that advice contained herein should be treated as a guide and not as a substitute for seeking appropriate advice.

Foreword

East Africa is globally recognised for its rich biodiversity and iconic landscapes. Managed well, these resources spur economic growth and improve livelihoods. Trees and shrubs play a significant role in moderating the climate. Trees are without a doubt the best carbon capture technology in the world. When they perform photosynthesis, they remove carbon dioxide out of the air, and release oxygen. Wood is an incredible carbon sink because it is mostly made of carbon, it lasts for years as a standing tree, and takes years to break down after the tree dies. Trees and shrubs provide a habitat for many species of animals and plants. Many ecosystems rely on trees for their survival. These ecosystems are home to many different species of animals, plants, and insects. East African rainforests are among the most biodiverse habitats in the world. Trees provide oxygen for these ecosystems and make them more resilient to climate change. Trees provide shade and shelter, timber, fuel, fruit and food as many other services. Unfortunately in East Africa forest are shrinking at a high rate as trees are cleared to increase the amount of land available for agriculture and urbanisation. It is urgently time to reverse this situation by massively restoring or replanting indigenous tree species. The forest is a part of our natural world that we should never forget about. The ecosystem of trees is an important part of our planet’s health.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 How to use this book

How to use this book

Key to species

How to read Icons

Chapter 2 Species Description

Adansonia digitata

Afrocarpus falcatus

Afromorus mesozygia

Alangium chinense

Albizia coriaria

Albizia grandibracteata

Aleurites moluccanus

Alstonia boonei

Anacardium occidentale

Annona muricata

Annona senegalensis

Antiaris toxicaria

Antidesma venosum

Artocarpus heterophyllus

Azadirachta indica

Balanites aegyptiaca

Balanites wilsoniana

Bersama abyssinica

Blighia unjugata

Borassus aethiopum

Bridelia micrantha

Calliandra calothyrsus

Calodendrum capense

Canarium schweinfurthii

Carapa procera

Carissa spinarum

Casuarina equisetifolia

Celtis africana

Chrysophyllum albidum

Clausena anisata

Cola gigantea

Combretum molle

Cordia africana

Croton macrostachyus

Croton megalocarpus

Cynometra alexandri

Dichrostachys cinerea

Diospyros abyssinica

Dombeya torrida

Dovyalis macrocalyx

Ehretia cymosa

Ekebergia capensis

Entada abyssinica

Entandrophragma cylindricum

Erythrina abyssinica

Euphorbia candelabrum

Euphorbia tirucalli

Faidherbia albida

Ficus natalensis

Ficus sur

Ficus sycomorus

Ficus thonningii

Flacourtia indica

Funtumia africana

Gardenia ternifolia

Gmelina arborea

Grevillea robusta

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum

Hagenia abyssinica

Hallea stipulosa

Harrisonia abyssinica

Harungana madagascariensis

Juniperus procera

Khaya anthotheca

Khaya senegalensis

Kigelia africana

Lannea schweinfurthii

Lovoa swynnertonii

Macaranga kilimandscharica

Maesa lanceolata

Maesopsis eminii

Mangifera indica

Margaritaria discoidea

Markhamia lutea

Milicia excelsa

Millettia dura

Mimusops bagshawei

Monodora myristica

Morinda lucida

Myrianthus holstii

Mystroxylon aethiopicum

Neoboutonia macrocalyx

Newtonia buchananii

Olea capensis

Parinari excelsa

Persea americana

Philenoptera laxiflora

Phoenix reclinata

Piliostigma thonningii

Piptadeniastrum africanum

Pittosporum viridiflorum

Polyscias fulva

Pouteria altissima

Premna angolensis

Prunus africana

Pterygota mildbraedii

Pycnanthus angolensis

Rhamnus prinoides

Ricinodendron heudelotii

Schrebera arborea

Sclerocarya birrea

Searsia natalensis

Senegalia polyacantha

Senna didymobotrya

Sesbania sesban

Shirakiopsis elliptica

Spathodea campanulata

Steganotaenia araliacea

Stereospermum kunthianum

Strombosia scheffleri

Symphonia globulifera

Syzygium cordatum

Tamarindus indica

Tephrosia vogelii

Terminalia brownii

Tetrapleura tetraptera

Treculia africana

Trema orientalis

Trichilia dregeana

Turraea robusta

Vachellia abyssinica

Vachellia seyal

Vangueria apiculata

Vepris nobilis

Vitellaria paradoxa

Vitex doniana

Warburgia ugandensis

Ximenia americana

Zanthoxylum gilletii

Ziziphus abyssinica

Index

Introduction

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” This proverb, probably Chinese, learns us that it is never to late to plant trees.

There’s more to trees than meets the eye. Trees have far-reaching benefits for you, your land, the environment, your community and for future generations by planting the right tree in the right place for the right reason. To do so this book provide the information you need.

A selection of 130 trees or shrubs is made for planting trees in the right place based on where you and your community are situated in the different climatic zones of East Africa, from tropical or equatorial, grassland, woodland, desert, semiarid and montane climate. The altitude range and the main annual rainfall range is provided for each tree so you can find out if he suits your place.

In your community or on your land the right place is to be chooses following the purpose for the trees. Fruit bearing trees or shrubs shall be planted in your home or fruit garden. Trees or shrubs suitable for fencing or providing hedges or windbreaks shall be planted near the homestead. Trees for erosion control, contour lines or river bank stabilisation shall be planted on eroded land or land with risk for inundation or landslides or in swampy areas, wetlands, or near rivers. A number of trees fix nitrogen, provide material for mulch or compost making, they can be intercropped in between your crops such as coffee, bananas or annual crops as maize and beans. You can also produce your proper fuelwood near the homestead in stead going far into to the bush, with mixed or standalone woodlots. If you are an animal breeder or beekeeper you can create fodder banks with trees or a bee forage garden. A number of trees make the environment beneficial to live an can be planted in the community parks or along the road as avenue trees, or special gathering or come together trees.

Well-managed woodlands can provide viable income generation opportunities. With timber in high demand, you could benefit from reliable short or long-term revenue. Planting and harvesting fastgrowing trees that can be coppiced or felled on a frequent cycle results in a quicker turnover but may be less profitable over time than slower-growing high-quality timber. Local woodfuel production can provide efficient energy savings for cooking or give you an income from sales. There are also other wood products to consider, such as the production of wood for construction and furniture, as well as coppice materials for carvings, farm implements and temporary fencing. Tree growing for on-farm charcoal production is part of a sustainable charcoal production system.

Woodland creation as part of an integrated land use model it can provide multiple indirect benefits, helping you to provide a natural form of flood management and improve water quality. Woodland in the right place helps slow run-off from your land as well as helping to reduce water pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes. Manage soil and nutrient losses. Planting woodland between the field edge and a river can reduce sediment run-off and nutrient losses. Reduce erosion. Planting trees along rivers can help to stabilise the riverbank and prevent landslips. Planting tree on contour lines in the mountain areas prevent landslides. Planting woodland shelterbelts around your farm lowers windspeed. Provide shelter for livestock and provide an source of food for bees. Increase productivity by combining trees with crops and livestock for healthier soil, which could lead to more sustainable yields, all of which can benefit biodiversity.

Boost biodiversity. Woodlands are home to a wealth of wildlife and create a habitat for a rich array of plant and fungi species. Making smaller woodlands bigger or connecting existing woodlands with one another can help connect habitats and encourage wildlife corridors, boosting nature recovery and enabling species to adapt to an ever-changing climate. Woodland along rivers and streams provides shade to keep rivers cool for fish and other aquatic life, and leaves, twigs and branches that fall into rivers and streams are also beneficial for plants, invertebrates, and fish.

Support health and well-being. Trees planted in your garden can mask concrete walls or parking lots, and unsightly views. They muffle sound from nearby streets, and create an eye-soothing canopy of green. Trees absorb dust and wind and provide shelter, cool environment and oxygen around the house. Trees planted in towns, parks and avenues cool the environment by shading, create space for recreation, gathering and spiritual inspiration.

Reduce the risk of flooding. Creating woodland in the right places can slow the flow of water and reduce flood peaks. Upland woodland can increase water storage by intercepting, using and recycling more rainwater than grassland, and woodland on a river’s floodplain can slow the flow of floodwater and reduce the risk of floods in communities.

Natural carbon capture. Woodlands play an important role in addressing climate change. Trees act as a natural ‘carbon sink’ by removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By planting more trees, and protecting existing woodlands, together, we can help counteract some of the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

We promote indigenous trees since they are our very own, they exist for millions of years in the place where we live. It promotes biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem, They are just around us waiting to be discovered,

This book is written for all people interested in propagating, planting, using and enjoying trees. I can think of farmers, managers, government agents, foresters, trainers, tourists, artists and youth interested in propagating trees. In such a way to sustain the environment, reduce the depletion of natural resources and manage sustainably woodlots, forest or plantations. This book provide information on indigenous trees as an alternative for exotic trees (Eucalyptus and pines) who are promoted and massively planted today, without integration of important environment services only looking at short time economic benefits.

Chapter 1 How to use this book

How to use this book

The trees and shrubs include in this book are mostly indigenous or native to East Africa, only a few species which are very common and naturalised are from exotic origin.

A tree is defined for this work as a woody plant that reach a height of 6 m on a single stem. Shrubs are also woody plants considered lower than 6 m in height with multiple stems starting from the ground.

The front-page of the book show a picture of a magnificent tree (Milicia exelsa) left stand alone in the landscape. (Kinyawara road, Uganda).

Species description

First paragraphs under the name contains the botanical name and or synonym, the english name, and the vernacular names in the local languages, this for purposes of identification.

Botanical name

Each species has one and only one recognised botanical name, it consist at least of the name of the genus and an specific epithet. Additionally the author of the botanical name is mentioned and also the plant family to which the genus belongs. The authorities mainly followed are the Flora of Tropical East Africa and Plants of the World Online of the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew.

Synonym to botanical name

A synonym is an earlier used botanical name, usually replaced, based on scientific taxonomy studies, by a new accepted botanical name. In case of a long time used synonym, which still a lot of people use and under which they known the tree species, in that case the synonym is provided. Example given Sapium ellipticum, recently (2000) renamed as Shirakiopsis elliptica. The African Acacia’s are also recently renamed in Vachellia and Senegalia.

English name

The English name given is the most usual, not all tree species have an english name, but where they exists they are mentioned. In case of absence it is better to become familiar with the botanical name. Source for English names: The World Flora Online.

Trade name

This is the name under which the wood or timber of the tree species is traded in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Source for trade names: The Indigenous Trees of the Uganda Protectorate by William Eggeling.

Local names

The vernacular name or the local name of the tree is indicated followed by the name of the language in between brackets. Not all trees have local names, or some species have more than one local name. Sources for local names: Useful Trees and Shrubs for Uganda by A. Katende, Useful Trees and Shrubs for Kenya by P. Maundu and B. Tengnas, Useful Trees and Shrubs for Tanzania by L. Mbuya, The Agroforestry Database.

The natural distribution

A map of Africa shows the natural distribution of the tree species. For native species the distribution area is green. For exotic species the distribution area is orange. The data are retrieved from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Pictures

For each species usually four pictures are provided, the largest one, under the name of the species, is representing the habit of the tree, the other smaller ones represent a leaf, the inflorescence and or a fruit, in case I do not have one of both, I replaced it with the bark or the slash or some specific characteristic of that species. Almost all the pictures are made by the author, if I do not have a picture of the tree features I retrieved a picture of an other author who I give the credits in the picture caption.

Identification

There is no detailed determination key for identification provided. The pictures, the names and complete description should fulfil identification function.

1. General characteristics

Describe tree or shrub in general characteristics, evergreen or deciduous, fast or slow growing, height it reach as mature species. Common use of the tree. Altitude range in meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) and main annual rainfall range in millimetres (mm).

2. Layman description

A short botanical description in simple language.

3. Services to Humans and Environment

Trees contribute to Humans and the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. They are an important part of every community. Each species has its specific benefits.

4. Wood properties and products

Trees wide variety of practical and commercial uses. Wood was the very first fuel, and is still used for cooking and heating. Trees provide timber for building construction, furniture manufacture, tools, sporting equipment, and thousands of household items. Wood pulp is used to make paper.

The main physical properties include colour, lustre, odour, taste, texture, grain, figure, weight, and hardness of wood. The term hard wood as opposed to hardwood, is referring to a physical property of the wood itself, the hardness. Hardness refers to the ability of the wood to resist indentation.

5. Propagation

Every tree species has its proper conditions to assure germination. Treating the seed properly is necessary before germination occurs. Seeds are classified as either recalcitrant, intermediate, or orthodox based on their storage behaviour. It is essential to understand the tree seed storage behaviour to maintain seed viability and thus minimise seed losses.

6. Tree management

Most trees needs appropriate soil types, others are more tolerant, in order to thrive. Tree management includes regular inspections and maintenance work. This maintenance may include the protection against browsers, providing shade for young plantations, watering, pruning, lopping, coppicing and pollarding, replacement planting, with the aim of maintaining the overall tree cover in a safe and healthy condition.

7. Distribution

Tree species distributions are dependent on interactions with abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. Abiotic factors like temperature, moisture, and soil nutrients, along with biotic interactions within and between species, can all have strong influences on spatial distributions.

A number of tree species are cosmopolitan, this means they are widely distributed all over the world. Other species are endemic, occurring in the same geographical location and in no other place, thus with limited distribution. Planting or natural regeneration of indigenous species who possess certain traits that make them uniquely adapted to local conditions, is part of success.

8. Botanical description

Each tree or shrub is described beginning with its habit, vegetative characters such as, stem and leaves and then floral and fruit characters. This description is based on the information provided by the Flora of Tropical East Africa.

How to read

5–10 m high, read as usually a tree between 5 to10 m in height.

5–10(20) usually a tree between 5 to 10 m or exceptionally up to 20 m in height.

5–10 cm long, read as range between 5 to 10 cm long.

(2)5–10(20) cm reads as usually 5 to 10 cm long or exceptionally 2 to 20 cm long.

Identification chart based on leaf types and leaf arrangement

Key to species

Identification chart based on leaf types and leaf arrangement

How to read Icons

Leaf types

Simple leaves

Simple leafves - A leaf consist of a petiole and a lamina. Leaves with the lamina undivided are called simple leaves. They are born at nodes with one axillary bud in the angle between the leaf attachment and the stem.

Compound leaves

Compound leaves - The compound leaves are those where the lamina or the leaf blade remains divided into small leave like structures named leaflets. Multiple leaflets remain attached to the main stem via a modified midvein called the rachis. The compound leaves are easy to identify, but the best way of identification is the absence of axillary buds at the end of each leaflet.

Leaf arrangement

The main types of leaf arrangement are alternate, opposite, or whorled.

Alternate

Alternate - Alternate leaves, connect to the stem one at a time, the leaves are single at each node

Opposite

Opposite - Opposite leaves, the leaves are paired at a node and borne opposite to each other.

Whorled

Whorled - Whorled leaves. Three or more leaves arising at a node (3+ per node).

Tree types

Trrees and shrubs

Tree - A woody plant, usually higher than a shrub, and characterised as being unbranched at the base and having a bole or stem and branches.

Shrub - A woody plant, typically smaller than a tree and characterised by the habit of branching from the base, usually with several main stems or twigs.

Cactus-like

Cactus-like - Plants that look like a cactus, but aren’t. Cactus are plants with succulent stems, pads or branches with scales and spines instead of leaves. The spines of cacti come from areoles, which are modified leaves. Euphorbias are mimicking cactus plants, they have milky sap and they have thorns, usually in pairs which are modified stems.

Pine-like

Pine-like - Resembling or characteristic of a pine tree. Pines are woody plants that grows into the typically conic shape, with a straight trunk and branches in whorls around the tree, adding a new whorl each year. Pines have needle-like or scale-like leaves and their fruits are cones.

Palms

Palms - Palms are distinguished by their large, compound evergreen leaves, known as fronds, arranged at the top of an unbranched stem though plants can be multistemmed. The compound leaves can be palmate or pinnate.

Simple leaves

The simple leaf may be considerd to have major shapes depending upon where the lamina is the widest: round, oblong, elliptic, ovate, obovate, lanceolate, linear.

Compound leaves

Trees with compound leaves have leaves in which the division of the laminas are completely separate. The leaf-like divisions are called leaflets.

Pinnately compound leaf

Pinnately compound

Pinnately compound - Or pinnate compound leaves refers to the leaflets arranged in two rows along the rachis.

When the leaflets are arranged in pairs - Paripinnate compound leaf. When the terminal leaflet is single or the rachis bears at the apex an unpaired odd leaflet - Imparipinnate compound leaf

Bipinnate compound

Bipinnate compound leaf - The pinnately compound leaf is twice pinnate, secondary branches are produced which bear the leaflets.

Palmately compound leaf

Palmately compound

Palmately compound - A palmately compound leaf has its leaflets radiating outwards from the end of the petiole.

Bifoliate

Bifoliate leaf - A palmately compound leaf when two leaflets are articulated to the apex of the petiole.

Trifoliate leaf

Trifoliate leaf - A palmately compound leaf when three leaflets are connected to the apex of the petiole.

Multi-foliate

Multi-foliate leaf - A palmately compound leaf when more than four leaflets are connected to the a p e x of the petiole.

Leaf attachement

Sessile - Leaf attached directly to the stem without a supporting stalk or petiole.

Petiolate - Leaf attached to the twig via a thin supporting stalk or petiole.

Chapter 2 Species DescriptionDescription

Adansonia digitata

Adansonia digitata habit

Adansonia digitata L Family: Malvaceae

English:Baobab

Uganda: Baobab

Kenya:Mbuyu, Muuyu (Swahili)

Tanzania: Mbuyu, Mkuu hapingwa, Mkuu hafungwa, Muuyu (Swahili)

1. General characteristics

Adansonia digitata is a large, round deciduous tree with a swollen trunk, about 10-25 m in height. Easily recognised by its branches curved downwards and resemble from 0-1500 large roots m.a.s.l. when Main leafless. annual Altitude rainfall range from 100-1500 mm.

2. Layman description

Adansonia digitata is widespread along dry tropical Africa, with exceedingly thick trunk and dense crown with palmate leaves. With large white and sweet scented flowers, with 5 fleshy petals and hundreds of stamens, pendulous on long stalks. Fruits oval shaped capsules, covered with yellowish brown hairs with a hard woody shell and with a dry powdery pulp inside in which the seeds are embedded.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Adansonia digitata leaves, roots, flowers, fruit pulp, and seeds are all edible and have various traditional medicinal uses. The dried pulp is sold around the world in powdered form. The bark fibers can be harvested and used to make ropes, mats, nets, and fabric. Baobab can be intercropped with millet or peanuts, it provide quality honey and bees often utilize hollows in the trunk to lodge their hives. The pollen mixed with water gives a glue that is used in carpentry. The bark is used for tanning and green bark yields a dye. A red dye is obtained from the roots. The tree is planted for shade, shelter, meeting places and ornamental.

4. Wood properties & products

Adansonia digitata wood is whitish, spongy and light. It is used for making canoes, rafts, insulating boards, wooden platters and trays, boxes and floats for fishing nets.

5. Propagation

Adansonia digitata are easily grown from seed. Seeds are collected from dry fruits by cracking the fruit open and washing away the dry, powdery pulp. To break dormancy you can nick or soak the seeds in hot water and leave for 24 hours before sowing. Sow in seedbed and cover the seed with sand to a depth of 4-6 mm. Germination takes 2-6 weeks. Seeds are orthodox. Seed can be stored for long period. Around 2000-3000 seeds per kg.

6. Tree management

Adansonia digitata requires little management. No major pests or diseases. Young trees can be damaged by fire or grazing. It may be pollarded or lopped to encourage abundance of leaves. Welldrained sandy soils seem to be preferred, although the plants are also found on lateritic soils around the margins of seasonal pools and along rivers. Planting is done at a spacing of about 10 m x 10 m. Baobab grow reasonably quickly when they are young. Advised not to be planted near buildings and roads.

7. Distribution

Adansonia digitata occurs naturally in most of mainland tropical Africa. Originally it was absent from many Central African countries, but it has been introduced in most of them.

8. Botanical description

Adansonia digitata is a massive deciduous trees reaching 25 m in height and up to 10 m diameter, with single or multiple, cylindrical or fluted, often buttressed trunks and spreading, rounded crowns. Branches irregularly distributed, massive. Bark gray, smooth to irregularly tuberculate. Leaves compound 5-7(-9)-foliolate. Leaflets sessile to subsessile, ellipticobovate, varying greatly in size, medial leaflet 5-15 cm long, 3-7 cm broad, apex acuminate, base acuminate. Lamina glabrous or with simple or clumped hairs. Margins entire. Petioles pubescent or glabrous. Stipules caducous. Flowers produced during dry or wet season, solitary, rarely paire. Flower stalk pendulous, 15-90 cm long. Calyx lobes (3-)5, triangular, green and tomentose to scabrous outside, cream and villous within, reflexed, 5-9 cm long, 3-5 cm broad, fused into a broad disc below. Petals white, crumpled in bud, broadly obovate, approximately equal in length to breadth, 4-8 cm long, 4-8 cm broad, narrowing to a thickened base. Androecium white, comprising a 3-6-cm cylindrical or tapering staminal tube, surmounted by 720-1600 free filaments, almost equal in length to the staminal tube. Style white, bent over at right angles or rarely straight, densely villous below, glabrous above, fitting loosely into staminal tube and persisting after floral abscission. Stigma white with irregular lobes. Fruit variable; globose to ovoid to oblong-cylindrical, calyx lobes persistent or caducous. Pericarp up to 8-10 mm thick, woody, with few embedded longitudinal fibers, covered in a velvety indumentum of yellowbrown or greenish hairs. Seeds reniform, laterally flattened, 10-13 mm long, 8-10 mm broad and 4-5 mm thick.

Adansonia digitata bark

Adansonia digitata leaves

Adansonia digitata flower © Atamari

Adansonia digitata fruit © Roger Culos

Afrocarpus falcatus

Afrocarpus falcatus habit © JMK

Afrocarpus falcatus C.N. Page Family:Podocarpaceae

English:Outeniqua yellowwood, Podo

Uganda:Musenene (Luganda). Sapta, Saptet (Sebei), Kiringi (Kwamba), Gumuhalamwa, Musagali (Lugisu), Akikache (Luo), Muhulizi (Rukiga), Bwipe (Rukonjo), Sitetet (Sebei)

Kenya:Muthengera (Kikuyu), Saptet (Kikuyu), Ormusanduku, Ol pirripirri (Masaai), Ben, Benet (Marakwet), Mubiribiri (Meru), Pirripirriet (Nandi), Marabet (Ogiek), Sapta (Sabaot), Piripirindi (Samburu), Lotimat (Turkana)

Tanzania:Dukmo (Iraqw), Kisalasala (Ngindo), Laganehel (Bara), Mpoda (Rangi), Mpodo (Swahili), Mse (Shambaa), Mshunga (Pare), Msisimu (Haya), Msosi (Chagga), Mtokosi (Chagga), Muanziri (L), Muvembanyigo (H), Mvavavi (Chagga), Mziziru (Haya), Nokim (Iraqw), Ol piripiri (Arusha), Ol wiriwiri (Meru, Maasai)

1. General characteristics

Afrocarpus falcatus is an evergreen pine-like tree up to 45 m or higher, with a long clean and cylindrical bole. It is relatively fast grower in good conditions and fertile soils. It can replace exotic pine plantations in montane areas, with much better ecological services. It is a non pioneer, shade-tolerant species, it performs best on well-drained, deep, humus-rich and light textured soils. Altitude range from 1,500 to 3,000 m.a.s.l.

2. Layman description

Afrocarpus falcatus (before Podocarpus gracilior, or also Podocarpus falcatus) is an evergreen pine-like tree up to 45 m or higher, with a long clean and cylindrical bole. The bark is thin, smooth, greyish brown, and flaking in rectangular to irregular pieces. The leaves are spirally arranged, in two opposite or sub-opposite ranks, they are linear, 3-5 cm long, dark, green often with a greyish bloom. Inflorescence consist of male catkins and female cones. The fruit is fleshy, spherical drupe-like, on a small stalk, from green to yellow green, up to 3.5 cm in diameter. The fruit is usually one seeded.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Afrocarpus falcatus provide edible fruit but they are not very palatable, ornamental, medicine, soil protection, riverbank stabilisation and windbreak.

4. Wood properties & products

Afrocarpus falcatus wood is used as firewood and charcoal. The trade name for the wood is Podo or Yellowwood it is high valued for planks, poles, paneling, furniture, boxes, veneer and plywood. It is suitable for construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, mine props, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers, toys, novelties, agricultural implements, musical instruments, food containers, vats, turnery, hardboard and particle board. The heartwood is pale yellow to pale yellowish brown, and not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight, occasionally spirally, texture fine and even. Resin is absent, and the wood has no distinctive odour. The wood is moderately light. It usually air dries without problems. The wood is easy to saw and work, both by machine and hand tools, with little dulling effects on cutting edges. It can be planed to a smooth finish. The wood has a tendency to split upon nailing, and pre-boring is recommended. The gluing, painting, varnishing and staining properties are moderately good.

5. Propagation

Afrocarpus falcatus is propagated by seedlings, and cuttings. The fruits should be collected from the tree for best germination. The seed coats are removed before sowing. Germination varies from 50 to 95% for fresh seeds. To hasten germination the woody shelllike covering of the seeds may be cracked juste before sowing. Seeds can be sown into nursery bags or seed trays. At the time of transplanting, care should be taken not to damage the taproot. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds can be stored in air tight bags in the fridge for 2 years, but with declining germination rate. One kg contains about 500 to 1,000 seeds. Cuttings can be made of leafy branches or semi-hardwood branches, rooting is induced with plant hormones.

6. Tree management

Afrocarpus falcatus is a fast growing species in good conditions, it is self pruning in closely planted plantations otherwise it should be pruned to obtain free boles. Plantations should be protected against fire. It can be planted on well-drained, deep, humusrich and light textured soils as ornamental in home gardens, parks and avenues, as field border, for intercropping in agroforestry, and mixed and stand alone woodlots. Planting distance: 10 x 10 m.

7. Distribution

Afrocarpus falcatus is widespread in Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa. It occurs in Afro montane forest, it is one of the dominant species in the Juniperus-Podocarpus-zone, also occurring in forest patches in gullies or left as trees in grassland or farmland in humid areas. This tree is not drought tolerant.

8. Botanical description

Afrocarpus falcatus (Synonym Podocarpus falcatus, and Podocarpus gracilior) is an evergreen, mediumsized to large tree up to 45(-60) m tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical. The bark is greyish brown to reddish brown, rather smooth, flaking in irregular pieces. Branchlets are ridged by decurrent leaf bases. Leaves arranged spirally, simple and entire; stipules absent. blade narrowly linear-lanceolate to linear-elliptical, (1-)2-4 (-4.5) cm long, (1-)2-4(-6) mm broad, apex acute to acuminate, base cuneate. Lamina leathery, glabrous, glaucous green to yellowish green, with a single main vein and single resin canal. Petiole indistinct, short, twisted by c. 90°. Male cone axillary, solitary or more rarely in groups of 2-4, nearly sessile, 5-15 mm long, c. 3 mm wide,

Afrocarpus falcatus bark © Muckleneuk

Afrocarpus falcatus leaves

Afrocarpus-falcatus fruits © D. Luscombe

brownish, scales many, arranged spirally, each bearing 2 pollen sacs. Female cone terminal on short, leafy or scaly branchlet, solitary, with a single fertile scale. Seed drupe-like, globose to obovoid, 12-18 mm long, glaucous to greyish green, seed coat hard, woody warty, enclosed in a somewhat fleshy, resinous integument.

Afromorus mesozygia

Afromorus mesozygia habit

Afromorus mesozygia (Stapf) E.M. Gardner Family: Moraceae

English:East African mulberry, Omukooge, Mecodze, Difou

Uganda: Omukooge, Mecodze, Difou (Trade name), Mukoge (Luganda), Mufullo (Lugiwe), Nyakatoma (Runyoro)

Kenya:Munuku (Luhya)

Tanzania:Mkuzufunta (Shambaa)

1. General characteristics

Afromorus mesozygia previously Morus mesozygia is a fast growing deciduous tree, up to 30 m high, it can be planted as a multipurpose tree, providing wood, edible fruits, fuel, traditional medicine and as a shade and ornamental tree. Altitude range from 400 to 1700 m.a.s.l.

2. Layman description

Afromorus mesozygia is a deciduous understorey tree to 30 m high, seldom with a very straight bole. Crown is umbrella-shaped. The bark is smooth, grey, with white patches, with vertical lines of large lenticels, when cut exuding white latex. Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate elliptic, 6-15 cm long, 3-8 cm broad, base is asymmetrical. Margins are conspicuous serrate to crenate. Lamina is papery, glabrous, strongly 3-nerved from base. Petiole is short. Inflorescence male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers are catkin-like, green, 2.5 cm long. Female flowers are capitate, solitary or 2 to 3 together. Fruit is globose, green first, brown later, 1 cm in diameter.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Afromorus mesozygia is planted for shade, ornamental, edible fruits, fibres, birdlime, fodder, bee forage, medicine and intercrop. All plant parts are used in decoctions, baths, massages and enemas against rheumatism, lumbago, intercostal pain, neuralgia, colic, stiffness, debility, diarrhoea and dysentery. The root is used as an aphrodisiac. Sap from young shoots is dropped into the nose for treatment of syphilis. Morus is widely planted as an avenue tree and along farm and field boundaries. It can be planted as a shade tree in coffee, cocoa and banana plantations.

4. Wood properties & products

Afromorus mesozygia wood is used as firewood, charcoal, timber for cabinet work, interior joinery, flooring. The wood quality is considered high, and it has potential for domestic and export use, especially for indoor utilisation. The wood resembles that of Muvule (Milicia excelsa) and it has sometimes been exploited as such, but it has a finer texture.

5. Propagation

Afromorus mesozygia is propagated by seedlings, wildings and cuttings. The fruits are collect from the forest floor, than crushed to release the seed. It is recommended to sow freshly collected seed. Seed treatment is not necessary, but germination is accelerated by soaking the seeds in water for 12 hours. Seed storage behaviour is recalcitrant. Germination starts 5 to 12 days after sowing. One kg contain around 500,000 seeds.

6. Tree management

Afromorus mesozygia is fast growing and can be managed by pruning, lopping and pollarding. It is considered a pioneer tree in a wide range of soils and habitat conditions but does not withstand waterlogged soils. It is planted for timber production, shade and ornamental in mixed or pure stands. Planting distance 5(10) x 5(10) m.

7. Distribution

Afromorus mesozygia is widespread in Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats in dry evergreen forest and semi-deciduous forest, also in secondary forest, thickets and along watercourses.

8. Botanical description

Afromorus mesozygia is a deciduous understorey tree to 25(35) m high, seldom with a very straight bole. Crown is umbrella-shaped. Branchlets are redbrown with many prominent lenticels. The bark is smooth, grey, with white patches, with vertical lines of large lenticels, when cut exuding white latex. Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate elliptic, 6-15 cm long, 3-8 cm broad, base is asymmetrical. Margins are serrate to crenate. Lamina is papery, glabrous, strongly 3nerved from base. Petiole is short. Stipules 0.5 cm long, caducous. Inflorescence male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers are catkinlike, green, 2.5 cm long. Female flowers are capitate, solitary or 2-3 together on a stalk up to 2.5 cm long. Fruit is globose, green first, brown later, 1 cm in diametertegument.

Afromorus mesozygia bark and slash

Afromorus mesozygialeaves

Afromorus mesozygia male inflorescence

Alangium chinense

Alangium chinense habit

Alangium chinense (Lour.) Harms Family: Cornaceae

English:Chinese Alangi. Alangium

Uganda:Guronono, Kistono, Lusotono (Lugisa). Mukofe, Omukofe (Lukiga). Mukoko (Lukonzho). Mukerenge (Runyankole). Kimuaitit (Sebei). Omutooke (Rutooro)

Kenya:Mutobolo (Luhya)

Tanzania: Mkondogogo (Shambaa), Mmavimavi (Swahili), Mringonu (Chagga)

1. General characteristics

Alangium chinense is a fast growing deciduous to semi-evergreen tree up to 25 m high, with typical very asymmetrical leaves. A pioneer species mainly found in disturbed lowland and montane forest, it occurs in a variety of habitats and grow well in different soil conditions. Altitude range from 700–2400 m.a.s.l. Main annual rainfall range from 1,000–2,500 mm.

2. Layman description

Alangium chinense is a deciduous to semi-evergreen tree up to 25 m high, with a straight trunk and open crown. The bark is thin and smooth, grey or green, sometimes slightly vertically fissured. The leaves are alternate, simple, and very variable in size and shape, usually Begonia-shaped, leaves on seedlings and coppice shoots can even be palmately lobed. Margins are entire. Inflorescence are small axillary cymes, 1- to 4-branched. Flowers conspicuous, creamy white to pale yellow, sweetly scented. Fruit a drupe laterally compressed, crowned with the disk and the remains of the sepals. Seed compressed, black when mature.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Alangium chinense is planted for medicine, bee forage, ornamental, intercropping, reforestation, life fence and farm border tree. The Baamba use the dried yellow inner bark to produce a red dye.

4. Wood properties & products

Alangium chinense wood is used for firewood, carvings, local beehives and scabbards. The heartwood varies in colour from white to grey and shades of brown, it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight. The wood is soft, it air dries well without checking, works well, bends easily and takes a good finish. The wood is not durable and should not be used for exterior purposes, especially when in contact with the ground.

5. Propagation

Alangium chinense is propagated by seedlings, cuttings and wildings and is reported to have a fairly good natural regeneration. Seed storage is orthodox. Seed germination rate up to 50%. The cuttings are made from "half-ripe" wood and placed in a sand substrate in a frame to root.

6. Tree management

Alangium chinense is a fast growing tree, It can be planted in any well drained soil, in full sun. It does not require any pruning, it support coppicing. Planting distance 5(1) x 5 m.

7. Distribution

Alangium chinense is distributed from Cameroon east to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is also widely distributed in tropical Asia from India to China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. In East Africa it is found in disturbed lowland, secondary forest, open types of forest and montane forest.

8. Botanical description

Alangium chinense is a deciduous tree to 25 m high, but usually less at lower altitudes. Trunk straight and cylindrical, occasionally weak and leaning, with branches at right angles and a layered crown. Small buttresses sometimes present. Young branchlets pubescent later glabrous. Bark thin and smooth, grey or green, sometimes slightly vertically fissured. Phellogen green. Slash yellow, with white or yellow lines, white with a yellow border on young trees. Leaves alternate, simple, very variable in size and shape, leaves on seedlings and coppice shoots can even be palmately lobed, ovate to broadly elliptical, 9 – 18 cm long, 4 – 10 cm broad, apex acuminate, base very asymmetrical. Margins entire. Lamina at first pubescent later glabrous, with 3–5 sometimes 7 main veins from base and 2–4 lateral veins on each side of the midrib. Petiole pubescent or glabrous, up to 3 cm long. Inflorescence small axillary cymes, 1–4-branched, pubescent or glabrous, 1–3 cm long. Peduncles up to 1.8 cm long. Pedicels up to 0.5 cm long. Flowers conspicuous, creamy white to pale yellow, sweetly scented, 5–8-merous. Calyxtube funnel-shaped, 1.5 mm long, limb spreading, 1 mm tall, denticulate. Petals strap-shaped, pubescent outside, glabrous inside except for hairy area near the base, 8–14 mm long and 1–2 mm broad. Stamens same numbers as the petals. Style hairy, up to 1 cm long. Fruit laterally compressed, 1–2-celled, minutely pubescent or glabrous, crowned with the disk and the remains of the sepals, 0.8–1 cm long. Seed compressed, black when mature.

Alangium chinense buttresses

Alangium chinense leaf

Alangium chinense inflorescence

Alangium chinense fruits

Albizia coriaria

Albizia coriaria habit

Albizia coriaria Oliv. Family: Fabaceae - Mimosoideae

English: Albizia, Mugavu

Uganda:Mugavu (Trade name). Mugavu (Luganda). Musisiya (Luamba). Etek, Etekwa (Ateso). Chesovio, Kumuloha, Kumoluko (Lugisa). Mubere, Muberi (Lugiwe). Muyenzayenze (Lukiga). Ayekayek, Latoligo (Luo Acholi). Ober, Omogi (Luo Jonam). Bata, Itek (Luo Lango). Oyo (Madi). Musisa, Murongo (Runyankole). Murongo, Musisa, (Runyoro). Musita (Lusoga). Musisa, Omusisa (Rutooro)

Kenya:Mukurwe (Kikuyu), Omubele (Luhya), Kumuyebeye (Luhya (Bukusu), Ober (Luo), Etekwa (Teso)

Tanzania: Mugavu (Trade name), Mkenge (Swahili)

1. General characteristics

Albizia coriaria is a slow growing, large spreading tree, up to 30 m high, with high light requirements. Albizia coriaria is adapted to several habitats, it is suitable for dry areas and poor soils and is often seen on rocky hills. It is recommend for the rehabilitation of depleted, hill slopes and stony land. It can grow either solitary or in pure stands, but may suffer from competition in dense mixed stands because of its slow growth rate. It can be planted in full sun and provide medicine for abdominal problems associated with protozoan parasites. Altitude range from 850 to 1,700 m.a.s.l.

2. Layman description

Albizia coriaria is a deciduous tree attaining 20 m, with bright green plashes of new foliage. The crown is spreading and flat and the trunk often twisted. The bark is dark coloured, flaking raggedly. The leaves are alternate, and compound bipinnate, with 3-6 pairs of pinnae, up to 45 cm long. The petiole is bearing a gland near the implant of the first pair of pinnae, and is swollen at the base. The inflorescence are terminal and axillary clustered heads. The flowers are many, sweet smelling, white or whitish, with a staminal tube not or scarcely exerted beyond corolla, red above, white below. The fruit is a pod, glossy brown, straight, flat, with 6-8 flat seeds.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Albizia coriaria provide medicine from roots and bark, fodder, bee forage, shade, ornamental, nitrogenfixing, toothbrushes and veterinary medicine. The leaves can be used to hasting the ripening of bananas. It can be planted as roadside tree.

4. Wood properties & products

Albizia coriaria wood is used for firewood, charcoal, timber, furniture, poles, boat building. The wood is hard, the heartwood is yellow to pale brown and is durable and termite resistant. The sapwood is whitish and susceptible to insect attack. The timber works easily.

5. Propagation

Albizia coriaria is propagated by seedlings and wildings. Seeds and pods are collected still on the tree, to avoid insect damage. Float the seeds in water to separate the good from the bad ones. Fresh seeds do not need pretreatment before sowing. Stored seeds can be nicked or soaked in water for 12 hours just before sowing. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds can be stored for long periods if kept insect free. Germination can be up to 50% after 2 weeks. Young seedlings and plants should be protected from browsers.

6. Tree management

Albizia coriaria is a slow grower, it can be managed by lopping, pollarding and pruning. It can be planted on all types of soils including gravel and rocky places, with low soils fertility. It can be planted in the home gardens, in fallow, mixed and stand alone woodlots, as bee forage and fodder bank for animals. Planting distance: 10 x 10 m.

7. Distribution

Albizia coriaria is distributed from West Africa to Sudan and south to Angola. It is widespread on the edges of riverine and lakeside forests, in open or wooded grassland.

8. Botanical description

Albizia coriaria is a deciduous tree attaining 20 m in savanna and 40 m in forest, with bright green plashes of new foliage. The crown is spreading and flat and the trunk often twisted. Bark dark coloured, flaking raggedly. Buttresses short and blunt. Slash yellowwhite, hard. Leaves alternate, compound bipinnate, pinnae 3-6 pairs, each pinnae with 5-12 pairs of leaflets, petiole and rachis up to 45 cm long. Petiole bearing a gland near the implant of the first pair of pinnae, swollen at base, 10 cm long. Young leaf rachis and young pinnae slightly hairy. Pinnae opposite, having glands at attachments of leaflets, swollen at base. Leaflets opposite, oblong, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm broad, apex obtuse, base unequal, one side rounded, other side truncate. Margin entire. Petiolule sessile to subsessile, swollen. Lamina glabrous with a few hairs beneath, midrib more or less central, with 8-14 pairs of lateral veins, arcuate at margin. Inflorescence terminal and axillary clustered heads. Flowers many, sweet smelling, subsessile or on pedicels 0.5-2 mm long. Bracteoles already fallen by flowering time, minute, mostly 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx 3.5-6.5 mm long, not slit unilaterally, puberulous outside, with a few shortly stipitate glands, only visible by hand lens, principally on outside of lobes. Corolla 8-13.5 mm long, white or whitish, puberulous outside. Stamen many. Staminal tube not or scarcely exserted beyond corolla. Filaments 1.7-4 cm long, red above, white below. Fruit a pod, glossy brown, straight, flat, coriaceous, oblong, 15-24 cm long, about 4 cm broad, 6-8

Albizia coriaria bark

Albizia coriaria leaves

Albizia coriaria inflorescence

Albizia coriaria fruits

seeded. Seeds about 9-12 mm long and 8-9 mm broad, flattened.

Albizia grandibracteata

Albizia grandibracteata habit

Albizia grandibracteata Taub. Family: Fabaceae - Mimosoideae

English:Large-leaved albizia, Nongo

Uganda:Mulongo, Nongo (Luganda). Bulera (Luamba). Mulongosulwe (Lugiwe). Mushebeye (Lukiga). Nkwasi (Lukonzho). Awak, Owak (Luo Acholi). Awak, Owak (Luo Alur). Mulongo, Nongo, Murongo (Runyoro). Mulongo, Nongo (Lusoga). Mulongo, Murongo, Nongo (Rutooro)

Kenya:Kipsanganyet (Dorobo)

Tanzania: Nongo (Trade name), Mkenge (Swahili)

1. General characteristics

Albizia grandibracteata is a fast growing medium high tree, up to 20 m high. It grows best in rain forest and riverine forest. It can be planted in pure stands, mixed stands or intercropped with crops and fruits. Altitude range from 1,000 to 2,100 m.a.s.l.

2. Layman description

Albizia grandibracteata is a deciduous medium high tree with a straight trunk up to 20-30 m high, crown flattened or layered. Bark thin and smooth, or rough with horizontal lip-shaped lenticels. Leaves alternate, compound bipinnate, pinnae 1-3 pairs. Leaflets opposite, oblong to elliptic somewhat falcate, but markedly different in size on the same leaf, the terminal being largest. Inflorescence terminal and axillary globose heads, arranged in racemes easily recognised by the conspicuous broadly cordate petaloid reddish bracts. Flowers white, tinged with pink. Stamens numerous. Fruit a pod, oblong, flat, papery, pale brown.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Albizia grandibracteata provide medicine from the roots, bee forage, ornamental, mulch, nitrogen fixation improve soil fertility and soap can be made from the bark. It is a striking ornamental tree when in flower.

4. Wood properties & products

Albizia grandibracteata wood is used for firewood, charcoal, timber for furniture, joinery and construction and farm tools. The wood is pale, light, medium hard, who is easily worked, is not very durable and is attacked by insects.

5. Propagation

Albizia grandibracteata is propagated by seedlings, wildings and root suckers. Fresh collected seeds need no pretreatment. Stored seeds are best soaked in hot or cold water for 24 hours before sowing. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds can be stored for long period free from insect attacks. Albizia grandibracteata produces root suckers from exposed surface roots.

6. Tree management

Albizia grandibracteata is a fast growing species on wet sites, it support coppicing and pollarding. It can be planted in all types of soils, but prefers moist, wet soils and well-watered forest soils. It can be planted as ornamental in the home garden, in the fallow, mixed or stand alone woodlots, or intercropped with crops and fruits. and for bee forage. Planting distance: 10 x 10 m.

7. Distribution

Albizia grandibracteata is a tree from Central and East Africa and the Sudan, found in upland rainforest, in gallery riverine forests. In woodland and mixed forests and on forest edges.

8. Botanical description

Albizia grandibracteata is a deciduous medium high tree with a straight trunk up to 20-30 m high, crown flattened or layered. Bark thin and smooth, sometimes rough especially on some forest edge trees, brown, with horizontal lip-shaped lenticels. Slash layered, yellow-brown alternating with yellow, off-white near wood. Phellogen dark red with paler streaks in old trees. Leaves alternate, compound bipinnate, pinnae 1-3 pairs, pinnae opposite, each pinnae having 2-6 pairs of leaflets, petiole and rachis up to 30 cm long. Leaflets opposite, oblong to elliptic somewhat falcate, but markedly different in size on the same leaf, the terminal being largest, up to 3-7 cm long, 1.5-3 cm broad on older trees, but much larger on young trees, apex acute to mucronate, base unequal rounded to truncate. Margin entire. Lamina glabrous, hairy beneath, midrib more or less central, conspicuous white above. Pinnae hairy with glands near the attachment of the two upper pair of leaflets, base slightly swollen. Petiole lenticellate, gland present, hairy, base swollen, to 10 cm long. Petiolules sessile. Stipules leaf-like, rounded, up to 2 cm diameter, caducous. Inflorescence terminal and axillary globose heads, arranged in racemes. Peduncles subtended by large broadly cordate petaloid reddish bracts. Flowers sessile or with pedicels up to 0.75 cm long, puberulous. Flowers white, tinged with pink, Calyx 3-5 mm long, minutely pubescent outside. Corolla about 7-10 mm long, densely and minutely pubescent outside, pink to white. Stamens numerous. Staminal connate at the base or high up into tube, tube pink or red, exserted about 1-2 cm beyond corolla. Ovary short stipitate or sessile. Style filiform. Stigma capitate or minute. Fruit a pod, oblong, flat, papery, pale brown, 7-10 cm long, 1.5 -2.5 cm broad. Seeds 5-8, 1 cm long, flat.

Albizia grandibracteata bark

Albizia grandibracteata leaves

Albizia grandibracteata inflorescence

Albizia grandibracteata fruits

Aleurites moluccanus

Aleurites moluccanus habit

Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd. Family: Euphorbiaceae

English:Candlenut oil tree

Uganda: Candlenut oil tree

Kenya: Candlenut oil tree

Tanzania: Candlenut oil tree.

1. General characteristics

Aleurites moluccanus is an exotic, fast growing, evergreen tree, up to 20 m high, easily recognised by its pale foliage. Cultivated for its fruits who provide a fatty oil for luminary and varnish. Altitude range from 0 to 1,600 m.a.s.l. Mean annual temperature from 18-28 °C. Mean annual rainfall from 650-4,300 mm.

2. Layman description

Aleurites moluccanus is an evergreen tree up to 20 m high, with open rounded crown and straight bole. The bark is smooth, finely fissured, grey-brown. Leaves in clusters at the end of the branches, alternate, simple, variable in shape, young leaves large, lobed with 3- to 7-lobes, leaves on mature trees ovate, entire. Petiole long. Inflorescence in large loose terminal cymes, with male and female flowers. Flowers white or creamy. Fruit an indehiscent drupe, round, green, 5 cm in diameter, with thick hard shell, difficult to separate from kernels, containing 1 or 2 seeds.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Aleurites moluccanus is planted for the fatty seed oil who is used in cosmetics, industrially in paints, varnishes, linoleum, soap manufacture, wood preservation, for illumination in lamp oil, candles and medicinally as a mild purgative, embrocation for sciatica and against hair loss. The Kernels when roasted and cooked are considered edible. The bark contain tannin. Aleurites moluccana is commonly planted in villages for shade and as roadside tree. Its silvery-green foliage makes it an attractive ornamental in landscaping. It is also used for reforestation as windbreak and to suppress weeds.

4. Wood properties & products

Aleurites moluccanus wood is used for firewood, carvings, to make furniture, small utensils, matches and light indoor construction. It is suitable for paper pulp. The wood is soft and light coloured.

5. Propagation

Aleurites moluccanus is propagated from seeds. Wildings, direct sowing at site and cuttings can be used for propagation. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Seeds are collected from the trees or fallen on the ground. Germination requires 3 to 4 months. To hasten germination seeds can be cracked. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. Kernels can be stored for a year, after drying to 10-12% moisture content, before losing viability. One kg of seeds contains 100 to 300 kernels. Young plants grows relatively fast and needs little attention.

6. Tree management

Aleurites moluccanus can be managed by coppicing when young and pollarding when old. It can grow on a variety of soils, including red loams, stony clay ground, sand and limestone. The tree requires free drainage. It grows on lightly acidic to alkaline soils with a pH of 5-8. It is also quite drought tolerant and can even grow well on relatively poor sites. The tree prefers full sun and can grow as a pioneer species in open areas with suitable rainfall. It can grow in a modest amount of shade, up to 25%. Planting distance (5)10 x (5)10 m.

7. Distribution

Aleurites moluccanus is native to Malaysia, Polynesia, Malay Peninsula, Philippines and South Seas Islands. It has been introduced for cultivation in many tropical countries. Candlenut trees thrive best in the wetter parts of tropical regions.

8. Botanical description

Aleurites moluccanus is a evergreen tree up to 30 m high with a rounded crown. Bark smooth, grey. Young shoots, petioles and inflorescence axes densely stellate-tomentose. Stipules minute, subulate. Petioles 6-22 cm long. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate-lanceolate, elliptic-lanceolate, or up to 5-lobed, 7-24 cm long, 4-20 cm broad, apex and lobes subacute to acuminate, base cuneate to cordate, with two discoid sessile glands at the base. Margin from entire to shallowly dentate. Lamina densely stellate-tomentose first at both surfaces later glabrescent, 3- to 5- sometimes 7-veined from the base. Inflorescence panicles up to 16 cm long. Bracts 2-3 mm long. Male flowers pedicles, up to 1 cm long, slender. Calyx lobes 3 mm long, ovate, acute, stellate-tomentose outside, inside glabrous. Petals 8 mm long, narrowly oblong-spathulate, obtuse, glabrous, yellowish-white. Disk glands shallowly 30lobed, flattened, whitish. Staminal column 4 mm high, filaments 1 mm long, green, puberulous, anthers yellowish. Receptacle puberulous. Female flowers pedicels 3-4.5 mm long, stout, dilated upwards. Petals 1.5 mm broad, otherwise as in male flowers. Disk 2 mm across, flattened. Ovary subglobose, densely appressed-stellate-tomentose. Styles 1 mm long, glabrous except at the base. Fruit ovoidsubglobose or transversely ovoid, shallowly 2-lobed and with 4 low longitudinal ridges, evenly to sparingly stellate-pubescent, green, 4 cm long, to 5 cm broad.

Aleurites moluccanus bark

Aleurites moluccanus leaf

Aleurites moluccanus inflorescence

Aleurites moluccanus fruit

Seeds broadly ovoid, shallowly rugulose, brown mottled cream-coloured or whitish.

Alstonia boonei

Alstonia boonei habit

Alstonia booneiDe Wild. Family: Apocynaceae

English:Pattern wood, Mujwa

Uganda: Mujwa (Trade name). Musoga, Mukoge (Buddu), Mubajangalabi (Luganda). Kigima (Luamba). Mujwa, Mujwe (Runyoro). Nsiwa (Lusoga)

Kenya: Mujwa (Trade name)

Tanzania: Mujwa (Trade name)

1. General characteristics

Alstonia boonei is a deciduous, fast growing tree of swampy forests up to 40 m high, planted to provide shade for tea, coffee and banana plantations. It is easily recognised by the repeating branching pattern starting at the same level in a whorl. Altitude range from 850 to 1,500 m.a.s.l. m. Mean annual rainfall from 1,500-2,000 mm.

2. Layman description

Alstonia boonei is a deciduous forest tree to 40-45 m high with the bole deeply fluted at the base. The branches pattern are quite characteristic in young trees, radiating from the trunk at the same level in whorls. The bark is rough, first light-brown-green later darker, dotted with lenticels. The bark when cut exudates white latex. The leaves are simple and whorled, 6-8 together at the end of the branchlets. Each leaf ovate, up to 20 cm long, dark above and paler beneath, lateral veins numerous and parallel, margin entire. Inflorescence seen on bare trees are terminal panicles of rounded heads. Flowers tubular, white cream, small. Fruits in pairs of slender twisted follicles, 20-40 cm long, pending, first green than pale yellow. Dehiscing lengthwise setting free numerous seeds with tufts of brown hairs at each end.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Alstonia boonei is planted for medicine from the bark, shade and intercropping for coffee, tea and banana. The alkaloids found in the bark have diuretic, spasmolytic and hypotensive properties. The latex has been used as birdlime, it is dangerous to the eyes and can cause blindness.

4. Wood properties & products

Alstonia boonei wood is used for firewood, timber, and carvings. The wood is very light, soft, not durable. It is easily attacked by fungi and insects. It is locally popular for the production of household implements, stools, carvings, kitchen utensils, toys, masks, canoes, light carpentry, boxes because of its good working properties and stability.

5. Propagation

Alstonia boonei is propagated by seedlings and wildings. Pods should be collected from the tree before splitting open, the seeds have hairs at both ends and are quickly dispersed by the wind. Germination of seed takes 18 to 25 days. Immersion in water for 24 hours or manual scarification enhance germination from about 30% to 85%, whereas treatments with sulphuric acid and boiling water destroy the seeds. One kg contains around 33,000 seeds.

6. Tree management

Alstonia boonei grows fast, in a succession of crowns and should not be pruned but left to develop secondary crowns which will later kill off the lower ones. They are often damaged by strong winds and break at the level of the branch whorls, for this reason avoid planting near buildings. It is in general a light demander, but tolerates shade when young. It can be planted in damp situations, near rivers and swamps, moist but well drained. Planting distance 10 x 10 m.

7. Distribution

Alstonia boonei is distributed from Senegal and Gambia to western Ethiopia and Uganda. It occurs in primary as well as secondary, moist evergreen to dry semi-deciduous forest. Alstonia boonei is less abundant in regions with high rainfall.

8. Botanical description

Alstonia boonei is a deciduous forest tree to 40-45 m high, often with whorled branches. Bole deeply fluted, the flutings resembling the folds of a curtain. Bark grey-brown, wrinkled, with conspicuous lenticels. Slash yellow with darker pinkish spots, exuding a chalk-white latex. Leaves whorled, simple, obovate rarely oblong, 8-24 cm long, 3-7 cm broad, apex acuminate, obtuse or retuse, base narrowly cuneate. Margin entire. Lamina dark above, pale beneath, lateral veins numerous, forming an angle of almost 90 degrees with the midrib, parallel. Petiole 13 cm long. Inflorescence compound-subumbellate cymes, pubescent in all parts, 7-23 cm long. Bracts small, sepal-like. Flowers with sepals broadly ovate, 1-2 mm long, 1-3 mm broad. Corolla yellow-green to pale green, lobes pale yellow, rarely white, salvershaped, tube 6.5-14 mm long, lobes obliquely ovate or obovate, 2.5-6.5 mm long, acute or obtuse. Pistil 4.5-11.5 mm long. Pedicel 0.2-0.6 cm long. Fruits of two linear follicles, 22-57 cm long, 0.2-0.4 cm broad, pubescent, dehiscent. Seeds many, in two rows, with a thickened margin, bearing long stiff hairs at the ends and much shorter ones at the side.

Alstonia boonei bark and exudate

Alstonia boonei leaves

Alstonia boonei inflorescence

Anacardium occidentale

Anacardium occidentale habit

Anacardium occidentale L. Family: Anacardiaceae

English: Cashew nut

Uganda: Cashew nut

Kenya:Mukolosa (Kisii), Mbibo, Mbibu (Digo), Mkanju (Giriama), Mukoloso (Kamba), Maibo (Sanya), Mbibo (Swahili)

Tanzania: Mbibo, Mkorosho, Mkanju (Swahili), Nkorosho (Mwetra), Nkorosho (Mwera)

1. General characteristics

Anacardium occidentale is an introduced evergreen tree, up to 15 m high, it is the famous cashew nut, planted in plantations as a commercial crop. Recent fast growing and fruiting varieties have been developed in Tanzania who start producing nuts after 3 years of planting. The tree can be intercropped or planted as ornamental. Altitude range from 0 to 1,400 m.a.s.l.

2. Layman description

Anacardium occidentale is an evergreen tree, with spreading crown up to 10-15 m high, the recent varieties introduced from Tanzania are usually smaller. The bark is rough, dark brown. The leaves are simple, alternate and leathery, with the young stems and parts reddish, broadly obovate to oblong-obovate, 618 cm long, 3-10 cm broad. Inflorescence in terminal panicles, with reddish to blackish ascendent branches, with flowers yellowish-white to pale reddish. Fruit a nut, greenish-yellow, 2-3 cm long, kidney-shaped, with a very thickened and fleshy swollen stalk, 6-8 cm long.

3. Services to Humans & Environment

Anacardium occidentale