Steganotaenia araliacea (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Steganotaenia araliacea (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Steganotaenia araliacea Apiaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: Violet tree, Carrot tree
- Agnuakgna: Urao
- Amargna: Temene, Etse, Menahe
- Bertagna: Sheqet
- Gumuzgna: Sikida
- Nuyergna: Leele
- Oromugna: Jirma‑jales, Etse Menabele, Shenkore
- Shinashgna: Sigida
- Somaligna: Ghed-bidanie
- Tigrigna: Antrokohela, Endur, Benkala, Moad
- Wolaytgna: Sangano
Ecology
A small savannah tree occurring over a wide range of altitude, especially in low‑altitude woodland or on rocky outcrops. It occurs in Dry and Moist Bereha, Kolla and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones of Gojam, Ilubabor, Shewa, Harerge, Sidamo, and Gamo Gofa, 400–1,900 m.
Uses
Firewood, farm tools, medicine (roots).
Description
A small deciduous shrub or tree, 2–7 m.
- BARK: Yellow‑grey‑green, rather waxy, peeling in papery strips or rectangles, later grey‑brown, thick and corky, horizontally grooved.
- LEAVES: Crowded towards the ends of the few branches, compound, 2–3 pairs of leaflets plus one, spaced on a stalk to 10 cm, the base expanded around the stem. Each leaflet ovate, to 5 cm, sometimes stalked, the edge clearly toothed, each tooth bearing a fine hairy point.
- FLOWERS: Small, green‑white, in rounded compound clusters at the end of stout twigs, quite showy as they appear before the leaves; 3–7 long stalks arise together and each bears a crown of small heads (umbels) about 8 cm across. Individual flowers on stalks 5 mm long may be male only, the stamens longer than the 5 petals.
- FRUIT: In large untidy clusters, cream‑brown and papery, each fruit flat and heart‑shaped to 12 mm, winged each side with 3 ribs. Fruit dry on the tree splitting to release seed.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
Germination in 11 – 14 days, continues for additional two weeks. About 125,000 seed per kg.
- Treatment: Not necessary.
Management
Fast growing, coppicing.
Remarks
The wood is soft and brittle. Stems are hollow.
