East African green wood, Kenya Greenheart
Warburgia ugandensis
Family: Canellaceae
What it is like
It is an evergreen tree. It grows to 25-30 m tall. The leaf canopy is dense and leafy. The bark is rough and brown-black. The bark cracks into rectangular scales. The leaves are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and with the midrib very clear below. The leaves are 10 cm long and the edges of the leaves are wavy. The flowers are green-cream and not easily seen. The fruit is round or egg shaped and 5 cm long. Fruit are on short stalks. The fruit are green to purple and with a waxy white surface. Several seeds occur in the pulp. The seeds are flat and heart shaped. This species has larger fruit than Warburgia salutaris but has sometimes been included with it.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in East Africa from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It grows on the edges of forests and in dry sites.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda
How it is used for food
The fruit is used as a seasoning. The leaves, bark, young shoots and fruit can be used in curries. They have a hot peppery taste. The roots are used in soup.
Edible parts
Fruit, vegetable, bark - spice
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in about 15 days. Seed should be sown fresh wihout drying out.
The plant is fairly slow growing.
Its other names
Local names
Mukuzanume, Museka, Musunui, Muthiga, Muziga, Ol-msohoni, Ol-sogunoi, Ol-sokoni, Omenyarige, Pepper-bark tree, Sok, Sorget, Zogdom