Myrica salicifolia (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Myrica salicifolia Myricaceae Indigenous

• Amargna: Shinet, Kalava
• Guragigna: Abeyi
• Oromugna: Abay, Kataba, Radji, Tona
• Tigrigna: Nihibi

A species of mountain forests from Saudi Arabia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, throughout East Africa and south to the mountains around Lake Malawi. In Ethiopia, it grows in riparian forests and in Mimusops and Ficus forests in Tigray, Gonder, Welo, Shoa, Arsi, Harerge and Sidamo. Performs well in Dry and Moist Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones, 1,600–3,300 m.

Firewood, timber (local carpentry), medicine (leaves).

A deciduous shrub usually 3–10 m, but can be a tree to 20 m with a diameter up to 1 m, the trunk often branched from the base.

• BARK: Grey and smooth when young, later rough and dark. Young twigs glandular and hairy.
• LEAVES: Oval and stalked, 4–14 cm, dotted with golden glands on both surfaces, more below, giving a spicy aromatic smell when crushed, tip blunt, base somewhat rounded, 8–20 pairs of fine side veins, the edge wavy with a few well-spaced teeth.
• FLOWERS: Male and female separate. Male flowers yellow on yellow stalks to 3.5 cm, fragrant and dotted with oil glands. Female anthers shorter.
• FRUIT: On a spike to 4 cm, each fruit round and very small, purple with white waxy dots all over.

Seedlings, wildings, cuttings.

Contained in a warty, round fruit. Collected with the coat.

• Treatment: Soak the seeds in cold water for 24 hours.
• Storage: Can be stored in a dry cool place.

Plant closely to encourage straight growth; pruning, coppicing.

Dried powdered leaves are mixed with water and used as medicine for skin diseases. The wood is soft and light.