Ilex mitis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Ilex mitis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Ilex mitis Aquifoliaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: African holly
- Amargna: Misir gemfo
- Kefgna: Keto
- Oromugna: Hamsika, Miesa, Tilto, Wolkite
- Sidamigna: Mikichio
- Wolaytgna: Misira shendira
Ecology
The genus Ilex is widespread but there are few in Africa. This species extends from Ethiopia to South Africa being widely distributed but extremely variable. In Ethiopia it frequently occurs along river banks and stream beds, in moist evergreen forests, in semi-humid highland forests and highland woodlands. It is particularly associated with Erica, Croton, Schefflera, Maesa, Podocarpus and Juniperus. It grows well in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones in Wolega, Ilubabor, Shoa, Harerge, Arsi, Bale and Kefa, 1,500–3,000 m.
Uses
Firewood, charcoal, timber (local construction), tool handles, farm tools, medicine (bark).
Description
An evergreen shrub or tree, 4–24 m, very variable. The trunk usually short but up to 1 m across.
- BARK: Pale grey-brown, smooth; branchlets with a purple colour.
- LEAVES: Dark green and shiny, long oval to 14 cm, tip pointed, narrowing to a short stalk. The middle deeply channelled into the thick leaf. The edge may have a few sharp spines.
- FLOWERS: Small, white and fragrant, on hairy stalks beside leaves.
- FRUIT: Small, berry-like, yellow-green ripening shiny red. Soft and edible with 4–6 seeds inside.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
- Treatment: Not necessary.
Management
Pruning, lopping, pollarding.
Remarks
The hard, white wood is used as timber, but the trunk is normally short. This genus includes several hundred members of mainly trees and shrubs
Found mostly in Asia and America.
