Strombosia scheffleri is a medium-sized tree that is native to Tropical Africa, the species is sometimes planted as a shade tree in coffee and cocoa plantations. It belongs to the family Olacaceae.
| Strombosia scheffleri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Olacaceae |
| Genus: | Strombosia |
| Species: | S. scheffleri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Strombosia scheffleri | |
Description edit
Strombosia scheffleri grows up to 25 to 35 meters tall with a straight trunk that is sometimes buttressed at the base.[1] The bark is light brown to greyish or yellowish green in color and flaky, while the slash is creamy revealing a reddish inner bark; its stems tend to hang downwards.[2] Leaves are opposite and have petioles; leaflets are broaldly elliptic in outline, up to 20 cm long and 9 cm wide.[2] Inflorescence are arranged in axillary fascicles with flowers that are greenish yellow in color. Fruit is a subglobose berry, up to 1.9 to 2.5 cm in diameter.[2] The plant's fruiting season is between May and September.[3]
Distribution and habitat edit
Occurs in Tropical Africa in the Guinea-Congolian biographical region eastwards to southern Sudan and southwards to Mozambique.[4][5] Found in Afromontane rain forests and gallery forest.[5]
Ecology edit
The fruits and seeds are eaten by red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, mangabays, and redtail monkeys while seeds are generally dispersed over long distances by bats.[3]
Uses edit
It is planted as a shade tree in banana, coffee and cocoa plantations.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b Lemmens, Rudolphe (2020). Useful trees of East Africa. Paris: BoD-Books on demand. p. 330. ISBN 978-2-322-21072-5.
- ^ a b c Dale, I.R.; Greenway, P.J. (1961). Kenya Trees and Shrubs. Buchanan’s Kenya Estates Ltd. p. 343.
- ^ a b Lwanga, Jeremiah (1994). The role of seed and seedling predators, and browsers in the regeneration of two forest canopy species (Mimusops bagshawei and Strombosia scheffleri) in Kibale Forest Reserve, Uganda (PhD thesis). University of Florida.
- ^ "Strombosia scheffleri Engl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ a b White, F. (Frank) (1983). The vegetation of Africa: a descriptive memoir to accompany the Unesco/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa. Natural resources research ; 20. Paris: Unesco. pp. 164, 181. ISBN 978-92-3-101955-5.