Varongy
Ocotea cymosa
Family: Lauraceae
What it is like
Ocotea cymosa is an evergreen tree growing about 20 m in height and can be found in Africa. It has a straight, buttressed bole that can be branchless for up to 16 m and usually up to 80 cm in diameter. The leaves and fruits are used as condiment, and the bark is used in preparing alcoholic beverages. The plant yields high quality timber used for furniture, cabinet making, boat constructions, ship building, toys, boxes, etc.
Ocotea cymosa is a TREE growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 20
Where it is found
Forests and coastal sands at elevations up to 1,000 metres.
Africa - eastern Madagascar.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Madagascar
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
The leaves, bark and fruits are aromatic; the leaves and fruits are used as condiment, the bark is added to locally prepared alcoholic drinks.
Inner bark: the bark that is found just beneath the tough outer bark of trees and shrubs.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 4
Other Uses The heartwood is pale brown; it is usually indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually interlocked, texture medium. The wood is moderately lightweight, it is often attacked by pinhole borers, but is moderately resistant to fungi, dry-wood borers, termites and marine borers. It is easy to saw and work with both hand and machine tools; sanding is sometimes needed for good results in planing operations; it is fairly easy to glue, paint and varnish; it nails well, with good nail-holding capacity. The peeling and slicing properties are good. The moulding properties are satisfactory and the wood is suitable for carving. It is resistant to impregnation by preservatives. Freshly sawn wood has an unpleasant smell. The wood of this species, and several other Ocotea species from Madagascar, is known as 'Varongy. It is in high demand for furniture, cabinet making, boat construction and mortars, but is also valued for construction, joinery, vehicle bodies, interior trim and pattern making. It is suitable for mine props, ship building, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, carvings, turnery, veneer and plywood. It is less suitable for flooring because it is too soft.
Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
How it is grown
Although generally thought of as needing moderate amounts of sun, trials have shown that it is extremely shade tolerant.
Propagating it: Seed -
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Varongy
Synonyms
Agathophyllum cymosum Blume ex Meisn. Agathophyllum lindleyanum Blume Daphne cupularis Lindl. ex Bai