Umuhumuro (Umbrella Tree)
Maesopsis eminii
A fast-growing, tall forest tree widely used in agroforestry and reforestation across East Africa for its valuable timber and dense shade. A decoction of its root bark is used in traditional medicine as a diuretic.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umuhumuro
- English name
- Umbrella Tree
- Scientific name
- Maesopsis eminii
- Family
- Rhamnaceae
Habitat
Lowland and mid-altitude moist forest, forest margins and agroforestry land.
Distribution
Tropical Africa; common in East African agroforestry systems, including Rwanda.
Uses
Agroforestry tree: timber, shade. Medicinal: decoction of the root bark is diuretic.
Ecological importance
Fruit is dispersed by birds and primates; as a fast-growing pioneer species it is widely used to restore degraded land and shade shade-tolerant crops.
Ibisobanuro
Kivangwa n'imyaka; imbaho, kugama izuba. Ubuvuzi: imizi iravura.