Scientific
name
Cordia africana1
Family name
Boraginaceae
Local name(s)
Otayita (Konsogna), Wanza (Amhargna),
Waddessa (Oromiffa)
General description
C. africana is a fast growing, branched
and deciduous tree growing in to big tree of up to 25m of height. It has
got large, oval, and base rounded leaves. Young shoots, leaf stalks, underside
of leaves are covered with soft brown hairs. Flowers are sweet scented
and very attractive to bees. Fruits are yellowish and embedded in hairy
cups.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
The flesh of the fruits is sticky
and edible both in normal times (by children) and in famine period (by
adults and children). Each fruit contains up to 6 seeds.
Agroecology
A tree common in Polyscias and Podocarpus
forest, as a forest remnant in cultivated areas. C. africana is used in
coffee plantations for shading, mulch and soil fertility maintenance. The
species grows well in dry, moist and wet midlands (1,600 - 2,200m).
Propagation
method(s)
Wildlings, seedlings, direct seeding.
Sample location(s)
(1) Jarso Kebele, Konso; (2) Mekane
Birhan, Jana Mora Woreda, North Gonder
Remarks
Further used for medicinal purposes
(bark, roots), bee forage, firewood, timber (furniture, beehives, boxes,
mortars), livestock fodder.
1 Parts of the following
description have been taken from Bekele-Tesemma et al., 1993: p. 172/173
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