Warburgia ugandensis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Warburgia ugandensis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Warburgia ugandensis (W. salutaris) Canellaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: East African greenheart
- Amargna: Kanafa, Zogdom
- Oromugna: Befti
Ecology
The natural range includes Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and south to South Africa. Widely distributed in lower montane rainforest and drier highland forest areas. Also found in riverine forest. In Ethiopia, it is found in lower rain forest and drier highland forest areas in Moist and Wet Kolla and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones of Bale region, only known from the Dolo-mena area and part of Harana Forest, 1,300—2,200 m.
Uses
Firewood, timber (furniture), tools, food (seasoning), medicine (bark, roots, young twigs), fodder (leaves, fruit), shade, ornamental, mulch, resin.
Description
An evergreen tree to 25 m with a dense leafy canopy.
- BARK: Rough brown‑black, crack into rectangular scales.
- LEAVES: Shiny dark green above, midrib very clear below, edge wavy, to 10 cm long.
- FLOWERS: Inconspicuous, green‑cream.
- FRUIT: Round to egg shaped, to 5 cm long on short stalks, green to purple with a waxy white surface, several seeds inside.
Propagation
Cuttings, seedlings, direct sowing at site, wildings.
Seed
The ripe fruit should be collected from the tree or shaken off the branches and collected from the ground. Fruit that has fallen to the ground rots easily. Germination rate may be over 80%. About 10,000—11,000 seed per kg. Treatment: Wash the fruit and sow seeds fresh for best results. Storage: Seed should not be stored.
Management
Fairly slow growing. Coppicing.
Remarks
After seasoning, the heartwood develops a slight greenish colour, which fades with exposure to light. The wood, though hard and heavy is not durable in the ground and not termite resistant. It has high oil content. The leaves, bark, young shoots and fruit can be used as a spice in curries and the roots in soup.
