Mkarati, or Bridelia is indigenous to Tanzania and is very suitable for planting in East and Southern Africa. It Grows well in a variety of climates from river valleys to open woodland.
Description: A medium sized, leafy evergreen usually with a dense spreading crown < 15m high. Bark is grey/brown and flakes with age. Young stems zigzag and are dotted with breathing pore.. Leaves are alternate - appearing compound - and are shiny, dark green, 12 cm veins parallel, extending to the margin. Flowers are small, yellowish and bunched in the leaf axils. Male and female flowers are on different trees. Fruit are 8mm purple-black oval berries that are sweet and edible when ripe.
Uses: Shade, mulch, fruit and medicine make the tree worth conserving, but grown sustainably the harvested tree produces fuelwood, charcoal timber, poles and tool handles.
Propagation: The tree is a prolific seeder and there are >20 000 seeds per kg. Germination of fresh seed is good at 90% within 30 days. No seed treatment is necessary.
Direct sow into pots for later outplanting.
Seed cannot be stored.
The tree is becoming scarce due to over-exploitation. The wood is termite resistant - which is probably why it is utilized so much.
Goats even chew on the bark and other animals feed on the berries.
At the village of Soko we found a huge tree and the fallen fruit - seed - could be scooped up by the handful.
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