Pittosporum viridiflorum (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

← Pithecellobium dulce

Bekele-Tesemma, Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia, 2007 Pittosporum viridiflorum (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Podocarpus falcatus →

Pittosporum viridiflorum Pittosporaceae Indigenous

Common names

• Agewgna: Zhinkuti, Tahtai
• Amargna: Elaho, Ahot, Kefeta, Weyel
• Guragigna: Ambilbey
• Oromugna: Amshika, Bocho, Talao
• Tigrigna: Chequente

Ecology

Grows in upland rain forest, riverine forest and evergreen bushland and gorges in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones in almost all regions, 1,400–3,000 m. It is, for example, found in Wof Washa State Forest Project

Uses

Firewood, timber (local construction), farm tools.

Description

An evergreen shrub or tree to 15 m, the mature bole may be 40 cm at the base.

• BARK: Smooth, dark grey, rough with age.
• LEAVES: Mostly at the end of branches (very variable), oval or wider to the sharp tip, 4–15 cm long, base narrowed to a grooved stalk, the midrib very clear below, 6–10 side veins, bright green in the sunlight.
• FLOWERS: On a branched head to 8 cm long and across, each flower stalked, about 1 cm with 5 green-white petals, the calyx cup-like below.
• FRUIT: Small brown-black capsules to 8 mm dry and break into 2 parts, the halves roll back to show a yellow ridged inside surface and 4–8 bright red seeds. Both are shiny with a resin but this fades as they dry out.

Propagation

Seedlings.

Seed

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Can store well in dry and airtight container

Management

Pollarding, lopping, pruning.

Remarks

Seedlings are susceptible to damping-off. Need to have well drained and raised seedbed.