Species name
Similarities with (Albizia schimperiana spp?)

Family
Mimosoideae


Local name(s)
Endrona (Agonia), Salwa mucha, Tawla mucha (Amargna)

General description
Small gum tree (?). 

Edible part(s), preparation methods and palatability
Resin is edible. The resin is available in some years and not in others, i.e. unpredictable, unreliable wild food source. By the time of the visit to Arba Zekuar in Belessa woreda, North Gonder, there was plenty of resin available in February 2001.  The resin is either bled by scratching the bark of the tree (see photo below), or is just picked off the bark and eaten on the spot. People commented that it frequently produces diarrhoea. Mostly children and shepherds collect and eat the resin of this tree species while they are out with their animals for grazing.

Agroecology
Found in lowlands of the Tekeze River water shed.

Propagation method(s) 
Propagates by seeds and wildlings.

Sample location(s)
(1) Siska Kebele, Zequala Woreda (Wag Hamra), (2) Arba Zekuar, Belessa Woreda (North Gonder)

Remarks
Leaves are eaten by domestic animals and the gum can also be eaten by goats.
 


 

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Tawla_mucha_tapped_stem__resin.jpg (33356 bytes)
Detail of the bark with dark brown-reddish resin on it

Endrona2.jpg (46682 bytes)
'Endrona' tree in the Tekeze River lowlands (Photo by Anna Barnett, Ethiopian Venture Project)

Tawla_mucha_leaves_and_seed_pods.jpg (58564 bytes)

Tawla_mucha_seed_pod_detail.jpg (25339 bytes)
Leaves and seed pods

Tawla_mucha_resin_consumption.jpg (22651 bytes)

Tawla_mucha_resin.jpg (11893 bytes)
Farmer in Arba Zekuar eating resin and freshly collected resin ready for consumption