Blighia unijugata (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Blighia unijugata Sapindaceae Indigenous

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  habit

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  leaves, fruits

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  leaves, fruits

• Kefgna: Komy
• Oromugna: Adakebo, Tucho

A tree extending from West Africa to Ethiopia and to South Africa. In Ethiopia it is a tree of evergreen lowland and upland forest in the Dry and Moist Kolla agroclimatic zones of Ilubabor, Kefa, North and South Omo, 500–1,700 m.

Firewood, timber (furniture, construction), shade (for coffee).

An under-storey tree 7–12 m, but to 25 m in forest. It has a dense, shady, rounded crown (like mango).

• BARK: Thin, grey to dark green, rather smooth but with horizontal ridges and little rounded bumps.
• LEAVES: Compound, only 1–3 pairs of leaflets on a short stalk, dramatic pink-red at first, later shiny dark green, dull below. Each leaflet about 12 cm and quite wide, smaller leaflets at the base, the edge wavy and tip long and pointed.
• FLOWERS: Small, fragrant and white on a drooping head 7–8 cm. Male trees and female trees.
• FRUIT: Bright yellow-orange-red capsules decorate the tree, each soft, hairy, rather triangular to 4 cm long with 3 winged lobes. The capsules become woody and split into 3 sections each of which twists back to set free 1 cm shiny brown-black seeds. Each has a small yellow cup-like aril.

Seedlings (sow seeds in pots).

Seeds germinate easily.

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Can be stored well unless attacked by seed eaters.

Fast growing.

Leaves and fruit have been reported to be poisonous — not even baboons eat them. The red heartwood has been used for building and furniture. Common as a shade tree in coffee plantations.