Baphia abyssinica (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Baphia abyssinica (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Baphia abyssinica Fabaceae Indigenous
leaves
Common names
- Agnuakgna: Adidewi
- Mejengrgna: Duwe
Ecology
Growing in Moist Bereha and Moist and Wet Kolla agroclimatic zone in Ilubabor, Kefa and Gamo Gofa regions, 400—1,250 m and with an annual rainfall 1,400— 2,000 mm.
Uses
Firewood, handles for farm implements, pounding stick (heavy woody stems), bee forage, fibre (bark fibre used as rope), toothbrush.
Description
A huge deciduous tree that grows to a height of 4-15 m.
- BARK peals easily.
- LEAVES: shiny green in colour on both sides, 2.5-11 cm in length and 1.3-5.5 cm in width; petiole nodded, deep green at leaf base and leaf-stalk base; leaf base rounded, tip cuneate, margin entire, oblong in shape; leaf veins fine.
- FLOWER: white.
- FRUIT: red, bean size, heavy, and oblong in shape.
Propagation
Seedlings, wildings.
Seed
- Treatment: Not necessary but soaking the seeds in cold water for half a day may hasten germination.
- Storage: Can be stored for some time if properly dried and kept in a cool dry place.
Management
Prune the side branches before they reach 2-3 cm in diameter to avoid large knots that make the stem rough. Pruning the crown at an early age increases flowering twigs, leading to production of bee forage.
Remarks
The wood is heavy and very difficult to work.
