Wild Loquat
Uapaca kirkiana
Family: Phyllanthaceae
What it is like
Wild Loquat or Uapaca kirkland is a tropical small tree about 5-12 m tall with a rounded crown and dark gray, rough bark. It can be evergreen or semi-deciduous. The branches are multiple and spreading and the bole is short and stout. The leaves are leathery, oval, and scattered or clustered at terminal branches. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruits are round and rusty-yellow. Root infusion is used in the treatment of indigestion and dysentery. The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. It is fleshy, sweet, and delicious. It can also be made into wine, cakes, porridge. The tree is planted for soil erosion control, as a shade tree, and as an ornamental. The roots yield blue dye and the leaves are used as a cockroach repellent. The wood, being hard, durable and resistant to termite attacks, is ideal for general carpentry, furniture, house building, carvings and boxes, and many others. If not for the said uses, it is used as fuel and for making charcoal.
Uapaca kirkiana is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 12
Where it is found
Lowland forest, secondary miombo woodland such as clearing and gaps, and open woodland. Grows in well-drained escarpments, with infertile sand or gravel soils of acidic reaction.
Tropical Africa - Angola, Burundi, Tanzania and the Congo.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Angola; Burundi; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Malawi; Mozambique; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia; Zimbabwe, Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Fruit - raw or cooked. Fleshy and sweet, it has a delicious flavour. The fruit is commonly eaten fresh and is highly regarded. It can also be used for brewing a very pleasant wine or for making cakes that are fried and eaten. The juice of the fruit is mixed with sorghum meal to form a thin, orange-flavoured porridge. The fruit pulp is juicy, honey-like, very tasty and somewhat reminiscent of pears. Dried fruits have a toffee-like flavour. The fruit is about 4cm x 4cm.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Medicine
Rating: 2
An infusion made from the roots is used to treat indigestion and dysentery.
Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.
Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.
Other
Rating: 3
Agroforestry Uses: The tree is planted for erosion control, shade, shelter, living fence and as an ornamental. It forms a mutual association with mycorrhizae and act as a soil improver and is an important agro-forestry tree. Other Uses A blue dye is made from the roots. The leaves are used as a cockroach repellent in homes. Wood is light with white sapwood and reddish-brown, figured heartwood. It is hard and durable, has a straight grain, saws clean and can be planed to a smooth finish. It glues well, holds nails firmly and takes a clear varnish finish. Suitable for general carpentry, house building and domestic utensils, furniture and joinery, carvings and boxes. It is termite resistant. The wood is used as a fuel and to make charcoal. Charcoal made from the wood is highly regarded, and many trees are cut specifically for this purpose. It is also a good source of firewood.
Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.
Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.
Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.
Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.
Repellent: Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.
Soil conditioner: Plants grown to improve the structure of the soil. See also Green manures.
Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
The plant is are found wild at an altitude of 500 - 2,000 metres in the tropics. It grows best where the mean annual temperature is within the range of 18 - 24°c, though it tolerates 12 - 32°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 700 - 1,500mm, but can tolerate 500 - 2,000mm. Plants are very intolerant of frost. Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade. Tolerant of poor, shallow, gravel and sandy loam soils. Normally found in acidic soils with a pH 4 - 6.5. Dioecious - both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
Propagating it: Seed - needs to be sown fresh since it has a limited viability of about 3 weeks. Germination is usually good, especially if the seed is scarified first. Young seedlings need to be given some shade. Division of suckers. Cuttings
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Hekela msuku, Kanono, Macunapa, Mahobohobo, Masuku, Matue, Mesange, Mguhu, Mgulu, Mgusu, Mkusu, Mompangwe, Msuku, Mtjunku, Mtoto, Muguhu, Musukuti, Umugusu,
Synonyms
Uapaca albida De Wild. Uapaca benguelensis M?ll.Arg. Uapaca goetzei Pax Uapaca greenwayi Suesseng. U