Mimusops kummel (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Mimusops kummel (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Mimusops kummel Sapotaceae Indigenous
Common names
- Amargna: Ishe, Shiye
- Gumuzgna: Gugurandija
- Kefgna: Gayu
- Oromugna: Bururi, Qoladi, Mito
- Sidamigna: Aununa
- Somaligna: Anjel
- Tigrigna: Kummel, Lelle
- Wolaytgna: Danga
Ecology
A widespread tree extending to East Africa and Eritrea, the Sudan and into West Africa in riverine vegetation and also in dry evergreen forest, in wooded grassland and on rocky hills in dry areas. In Ethiopia, it occurs in drier montane forest and humid highland forest. Performs well in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones in all regions, mainly along rivers and forest fringes, 1,000-2,500 m.
Uses
Firewood, charcoal, timber (heavy and local construction), tool handles, local utensils, food (fruit).
Description
An evergreen tree which can reach 30 m and have a diameter of more than 1 m, the crown leafy and oval.
- BARK: Dark gray, rough and deeply grooved, branchlets covered with red-brown hairs.
- LEAVES: Oval to 10 cm, the tip blunt, the midrib below hairy and also the leaf stalk to 2 cm.
- FLOWERS: monocious, Fragrant, creamwhite, 1–4 in leaf axils, on stalks to 4 cm. Flower parts in fours, rather flat star-shaped stalks and outer calyx with brown hairs, central ovary with silky pale hairs.
- FRUIT: A hard drupe to 2 cm, pointed and orangeyellow, contains one red-brown seed.
Propagation
Seedlings (sow seed in pots), wildings.
Seed
About 2,500 seeds per kg.
- Treatment: Soak in cold water to soften the pulp and extract and clean the seed and sow. Germination in 30 – 35 days if seed coat is broken.
- Storage: Can be stored for some time but susceptible to insect attack. Use of fresh seed results in best germination.
Management
Pruning.
Remarks
The tree fruits in December – March, fruits are sold in local market. The wood is hard and heavy.
