Ziziphus pubescens (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Ziziphus pubescens Rhamnaceae Indigenous

• Agnuakgna: Lero
• Mejengrgna: Oleme
• Nuyergna: Riak

Grows in Moist and Kolla Bereha, 300- 1,400 m, annual rainfall 1,400-2,000 mm. The species is common in Gambella and in the Weyto valley around Jinka.

Firewood, timber (general construction), tool handles, food (fruit), fodder (leaves).

It is a huge tree to a height of 15 m and DBH (diameter at breast height) of up to 1.2 m or more.

• BARK: dark, scaly especially on branchlets, often no scale on young branches, peals of easily from branches.
• LEAVES: Tomentose (finely hairy), alternate, simple, pale green when young and dark green when old, four coarse leaf veins radiating from its base towards tip, base asymmetric, petiole 4 – 7mm, margin entire up to 6.5 cm in length and ~3.5 cm in width.
• FLOWER: Not conspicuous, flowers stocks short and many along the branchlets.
• FRUIT: Bean shaped, slightly bigger than beans, green when young and reddish if mature, few seeds per fruit.

From seeds, seedlings and wildings

• Treatment: Soak in cold water and macerate it when loose
• Storage: Can store well in an air-tight container if fruit is not cracked.

Pollarding, thinning

Leaves are eaten by goats and cattle. Mainly women and children eat the fruits.