Lonchocarpus laxiflorus (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Lonchocarpus laxiflorus (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Lonchocarpus laxiflorus Fabaceae Indigenous
Common names
- Agnuakgna: Lero, Alwaro
- Mejengrgna: Oleme
- Nuyergna: Riak
- Oromugna: Amera, Orora, Marchessa
- Tigrigna: Tsengwerefya
Ecology
A tree distributed in savannah areas from senegal and Cape Verde Islands through West and Central Africa to Uganda, the Sudan and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, it is the only Lonchocarpus species and it grows in Moist Bereha, Kolla and Weyna-Dega agroclimatic zones in Gambella, Gonder, Wolega, Ilubabor, Kefa, Shoa and Bale areas, 450-2,150 m.
Uses
Firewood, fodder (leaves for goats and cattle), bee forage.
Description
Deciduous tree 3-12 m in height.
- BARK: dark when old, full of gray scales and easily peeling-off when young.
- LEAVES: rough feeling, simple, pubescent on both sides, pale green when young and dark green when mature; leaf tip obtuse and cuneate at the base, margin entire, leaf veins radiating from the base in four and branching towards the leaf tip; Leaf base asymmetric, petiole 4-7mm long;
- FLOWER: inflorescence in panicles erect at first, ultimately pendulous, 18-40(-60) cm long; individual flowers pinkish-mauve to deep lilac, excellent bee feed.
- FRUIT: pod, edible, 6-14 cm in length and 1.3-2 cm in width, green when young and reddish when ripe, with few seeds.
Propagation
Seedling and wildings
Seed
Treatment: Not necessary
Management
Manage it short for easy harvest of leaves and pods.
