Maesa lanceolata (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Maesa lanceolata (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Maesa lanceolata Myrsinaceae Indigenous
Common names
- Amargna: Kelawa, Yeregna qolo
- Guragigna: Abeyi
- Kefgna: Chago
- Oromugna: Abayi
- Tigrigna: Saoria
- Wolaytgna: Gergecho
Ecology
A straggling shrub or tree in woodlands with distribution extending to southern Africa. In Ethiopia, it occurs in gallery forest, dry evergreen forest margins, woodlands and on mountain slopes with Acacia, Carissa, and Euclea. It has, for example, been recorded in Debre Marks and Yogof State Forests. It grows well in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones in nearly all regions, 1,500-3,000 m.
Uses
Firewood, baking bread (leaves), medicine against Tapeworm (fruit), live fence.
Description
A shrub or small tree about 5 m.
- BARK: Grey-brown, rough. Pale dots of breathing pores on branchlets.
- LEAVES: Simple, wide oval, usually up to 10 cm long, shiny green above, pale below, thick and leathery, the edge well toothed, tip pointed, a leaf stalk 2–3 cm, often yellow.
- FLOWERS: Tiny cream-white, in fragrant branched heads to 10 cm beside leaves; stalks and calyx hairy.
- FRUIT: Very small, round, white and fleshy, topped by the flower remains. Small black seeds inside.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
500,000 seeds per kg, prolific seeder and fruiting all year round.
- Treatment: Not necessary, germination is high within 7 – 13 days.
- Storage: Mature and properly dried seed can be stored in air-tight containers at room temperature.
Management
Lopping, coppicing.
Remarks
The leaves are used for covering the dough while baking bread ‘injera’, a local bread made from tef. Fruits are used against tapeworm.
