Croton megalocarpus

Simply called Croton in English, the Meru name is Marabai and Maasai Ol Mergoit but it seems no particular name has been given in Swahili.

The tree is a dominant upper-storey forest tree in East Africa and widespread around Kilimanjaro, Meru, Ngorongoro and Usambara. There remain single specimens in cultivated areas. Requires adequate rainfall and the endemic range is 1 200 - 2 400 m  but it has been planted at lower altitudes.

Description:  A spreading deciduous tree >35m with distinctive layering of branches. The crown tends to be flattish and provides lighter shade. Bark is dark grey, rough and with cracking. Leaves are variable, long oval - pointed .12cm and often shorter. Dull green upper surface with silvery underside. Flowers are short-lived but conspicuous - buds opening after heavy rain - are pale yellow spikes >25cm with a few female flowers at the base. The fruit are grey/brown woody capsules 2.5cm containing three flatted (speckled) seeds inside.

Uses: Bee fodder, shade, mulch, medicine from the bark, poles, timber and fuel-wood.  

Propagation:  The tree seeds prolifically and there are 1000 seeds per kg. Seed cannot be stored for long because of the oil contained within the kernel. After 6 months the seeds sour and will have lost 50% viability.

Direct sow into pots and 70% germination can be expected after 30 days.

Seedings are fast growing and the tree responds to lopping to reduce the crown over crops.

The seed had a high oil content and has been taken as a purgative but is powerful! Some cultures prefer not to have the tree near houses.

The smoke from firewood is an eye irritant. 

Fallen leaves are naturally  recycled to add soil nutrient and is a hansom tree on roadsides.

Croton macrostachyus

Broadleaved Croton has many local names but the Swahili name is obscure and members of our seminars in Meru did not recognize Mfurufuru ans much as Marabai.

The tree has some dominance on higher rainfall areas of East Africa including the mountain areas of Meru, Kilimanjaro,  and Iringa.

Description: A medium sized tree to 20m.. The crown open and rounded with some heavy branches. The bark is pale grey and smooth. The leaves are Heart shaped, large and soft to 15cm and on long stems crowded at the ends of branchlets. . The flowers are creamy yellow and sweetly scented in erect spikes .25cm. Flower spike droops as seed capsules form. The fruit are pea-sized capsules on the drooping spikes. The capsule split open with a load crack to release shiny seeds with a soft white/crean aril.

Uses:Poles, tool handles medicine (sap, leaves, roots, bark), bee fodder, soil conservation and shade. Poor timber and firewood burns with unpleasant smoke.

Propagation: There are 15 000 - 25 000 seeds per kg and very often the seed is damaged by insect attack. Germination of sound seed is 50 - 60% within 60 days.

Seed will store for a short time if kept cool and insect free.

Seed treatment is not necessary and the capsules are collected when ripe and left in the sun to open.

Direct sow into pots.

The tree grows quickly in good sites and may be lopped or pollarded  over crops.

Seeds and resin are poisonous and freshly cut wood has a spicy smell - unpleasant.

The tree is good for inter-cropping eg in coffee plantations.

Wood is soft, light and perishable.

Citrus limon

We all the Lemon, or in Swahili, Mlimao. One of the oldest sources of vitamin C and one of the first fragrance put into soap.

It is said that the species is from somewhere in India but has been cultivated worldwide.

The species prefers a well drained fertile soil and tolerated higher altitudes than other citrus.

Especially in high humidity the tree is susceptible to pests and diseases.

Description: A tree reaching >8m , open crowned with branches thicker by the trunk. Young plants are often thorny. Leaves are pale green and sharp-tipped and >10cm long, edges are toothed. Stalks are short. Flowers are white, solitary and fragrant. Petals are thick and backed purple/red. Buds are purplish.Fruit size varies (with variety) 6-8cm green turning to yellow - juicy with acid taste.

Uses: From the fruit juice and flavoring and oil from the skin. Uses are wide and varied. Fallen branches and dead trees are suitable for firewood.

Propagation: The seeds are large and 2 000 per kg. Viability is variable and the seed does not store well.

Seeds should be dried off for a week or more then direct sown. Germination is better than other citrus. Fruiting can be sped up by grafting a mature branch to a seedling and this is done for the many varieties that age grown for various uses eg patio pots.

In milder climates ripe fruit may be found on the tree throughout the year.

Casurina junghuhniana (C. montana)

The Casurina species is often called She Oak but the name is supposed to relate to C. junghuhniana whereas C.cunninghamiana is called River  Oak. However the similarity is close and both are Mvinje in Swahili.

The species is indigenous to the highlands of Indonesia and to Australia, and it grows in a variety of soil conditions from sea level to about 2 000m and can withstand exposure to salt and drought.

In Tanzania the species can be found at Lushoto and on Zanzibar.

Description: A tall tree reaching to >30m, usually with a straight trunk >1m in diameter. The tree has a narrow, conical crown - dark grey/green colour. Bark is dark brown to almost black and is rough and corky sometime with furrows. Leaves are similar to needles with leaf scales, pale green branchlets 30 - 40cm long drooping. Male & female flowers are on separate trees and in clusters. Fruit are small capsules on female trees 9 -12mm in diameter, woody but not with prickles. The tiny valves open to released seed.

Uses: Fuelwood, timber, poles, tool handles, charcoal. Forestry and conservation as the species in nitrogen fixing.

Propagation: There are 80 000 - 100 000 seeds per kg with uniform and good germination rate. Seed treatment is not necessary but germination is improved by cold water soaking overnight before sowing.

Seeds store well for >1year kept dry and at room temperature.

May be direct sown or sown in beds for later pricking out

The trees grow quickly and around homes respond to pollarding to reduce crown and utilize wood material (and foliage for stock fodder).

Is used for horticulture shelter in NZ and Australia. Roots tend to spread sideways and so suckers erupt. These can be transplanted.

The timber tends to split and crack but is heavy and hard - poles are perhaps more useful for traditional houses also as rails instead of log slabs (mabanzi).

Bridelia micrantha

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.

Bauhinia variegata

Bauhinia, Orchid Tree or Camel's Foot originated from Tropical Asia, India and China. In Tanzania the species grows well and is used as an ornamental tree.

Description: A small semi-deciduous tree to about 6m. Bark is grey and smooth, furrowed and flaking as the tree becomes older. Leaves are alternate, dull green with two lobes 10 - 12 cm across - camel foot shaped -  veins radiating from the base. Flowers are pink/white in short sprays with each flower having five petals marked with rose/yellow/green. Often one petal different in shape and colour as with an orchid. Fruit are flat brown pods >20cm long twisted when open releasing flat seeds 1cm across.

Uses: Principally in Tanzania as an ornamental tree but the pods and flowers are edible and used throughout Asia. Wood is suitable for fuelwood, tool handles. Fodder, shade and soil conservation.

Propagation: 4-5 000 seeds per kg and fresh seed germinate within three weeks (70%). Seeds can be stored but will require soaking before planting. Sow directly into pots.

Our seed source was at the CEDAH complex and we supplied trees to most village/schools. Young seedlings are palatable to livestock and will be destroyed unless protected.

Bauhinia petersiana

Mgobwali or White Bauhinia [Edible Bauhinia] is indigenous to Tanzania and other parts of Africa. It grows on old termite mounds in woodland areas of medium altitude.The species tolerated dry periods and is noticeable because the thick, black seedpods remain on the tree after the seed have been explosively dispersed.

Description: An evergreen and sometimes deciduous tree > 7m, round-shaped with spreading branches almost from the ground. Branchlets had brown hairs. Bark is pale to dark brown, powdery and smooth when young and flaking in vertical strips when older. The leaves are alternate and simple, blue/green in colour and divided into two lobes - camel foot - 3 - 8 cm across and tomentose below. Flowers are fragrant and white with pink stamens. Petals are wavy and bend backwards. Fruit are dark brown/black pods, smooth, 18cm long and 6 - 8cm wide, splitting explosively to expel 5 - 8 brown/purple seeds that are oily and shiny.

Uses: Seeds are a food source in famine time (not preferred) and early explorers ground a coffee substitute  from the seeds, traditional medicine from roots and leaves, fodder from leaves (and sometimes pods), shade, amenity, tannin from the roots.

Propagation:  There are 1 500 seeds per kg and seeds can only be stored with refrigeration. Pre-soak seed in cold water for 12 hours or carefully nick the seed coat. Sow direct into pots.

There were a few trees on the road to Leguruke and along the section of main road around Kikatiti.

Farmers have left them growing which indicates they have seen value in the tree. We collected seed on occasion and sent some trees out to the various villages.