Polyscias fulva (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Polyscias fulva (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Polyscias fulva (P. ferruginea, Panax ferrugineum) Araliaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: Parasol tree
- Amargna: Kariu, Yezinjero wonber
- Oromugna: Tala, Karasho, Kuda
- Sidamigna: Kervoni, Tallaha
Ecology
A tall forest tree widely distributed in wetter highland forests into the bamboo zone and growing as far south as South Africa. In Ethiopia it grows in woodland, and semi‑humid and humid highland forests with Syzygium, Cordia, Olea, Apodytes and Pouteria in Shewa, Ilubabor, Kefa, Arsi and Sidamo regions. It is common in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones, 1,700–2,500 m.
Uses
Firewood, timber (boxes, crates), mulch and green manure (leaves)
Description
A deciduous tree up to 25 m with a clean straight bole to about 9 m, the base to 80 cm across, the crown flat-topped from distinctive forked branches.
- BARK: Greybrown, smooth, with horizontal scars.
- LEAVES: Compound, very long to 1 m, with 8–14 pairs of leaflets plus 1 at the tip, each leaflet oval and leathery, 9–20 cm, the tip sharp, the base rounded, smooth above but covered with cream-yellow hairs below.
- FLOWERS: Green-yellow, honey-scented, very small in loose heads to 60 cm long, branching regularly, the main stalks with red-brown hairs.
- FRUIT: Very small, often ribbed, in clusters on side branches, 2 seeds inside.
Propagation
Seedlings, wildings.
Seed
Can be collected from the ground. Another method is to collect fruit immediately they turn purple-black by climbing the tree. About 80,000—300,000 seeds per kg; germination rate may be 70% in 30–40 days.
- Treatment: Let fruit mature in the shade for 1–2 days, then extract by soaking in cold water for 4–6 hours. Squeeze out the seed and clean by floating it in water. Dry in the shade. Alternatively, wash seed with powder soap before drying it for two days. Seeds after extraction become white yellowish.
Management
Grows fast in good conditions.
Remarks
The light, soft pale-coloured wood is tough and strong. It is good for food containers as it has no smell. Fallen leaves make good mulch.
