Gardenia volkensii (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Gardenia volkensii (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Gardenia volkensii Rubiaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: Common gardenia, Transvaal gardenia
- Amargna: Gambello
- Shinashgna: Gaba
Ecology
A common tree in most of tropical Africa, from Ethiopia south to northern Namibia, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern Natal and Swaziland. It occurs in a wide variety of soils, ranging from well-drained sand to poorly drained clayey soil, as well as in rocky areas. In Ethiopia, it grows in Moist Kolla agroclimatic zone, mostly in well-drained soils, 500—1,300 m in Gamo Gofa and Sidamo.
Uses
Carvings, medicine (fruits and roots), ornamental.
Description
A small twiggy tree rarely reaching 8 m with a relatively dense crown and a short thick and often fluted trunk. The twigs are borne in whorls of three and are very hard and stiff.
- BARK: Pale grey, smooth on young branches. In older parts, flaking in small, fairly thick sections, resulting in a mottled appearance.
- LEAVES: Spoonshaped, widest and truncated at the tip and borne in whorls of three, usually less than 5 cm long.
- FLOWERS: Large, borne singly. Corolla large, showy white, turning yellow after a few days, then brown before dropping, tube up to 10 cm long or more.
- FRUIT: Large, round or oval, grey with prominent longitudinal ribs, remaining on the tree for a long time and falling unopened.
Propagation
Can be propagated from cuttings. Raising seedlings and using wildings are other options.
Seed
Seed can remain dormant for a long time.
- Treatment: Need to soak fruit in water and macerate when soft.
- Storage: can be stored for few months after drying well.
Remark
The showy large flowers of Gardenia species make them excellent ornamental plants. The wood of most species is yellowish, very hard, heavy and fine-grained, but the small size limits its use. An infusion from the fruits and roots is used to stop vomiting.
