Umwarangabo (Forest Fever Tree)
Anthocleista grandiflora
A medium-to-tall evergreen tree (5-35m) with a slender, straight trunk branching high up. Huge, stiff, leathery leaves cluster densely at the branch tips, giving it the alternative name 'cabbage tree'.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umwarangabo
- English name
- Forest Fever Tree
- Scientific name
- Anthocleista grandiflora
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN) - verify
Habitat
Evergreen forest in high-rainfall montane and escarpment zones.
Distribution
Mountains and escarpments of eastern and southern Africa from Cameroon and South Sudan south to South Africa and Eswatini; confirmed present in Rwanda and neighbouring Burundi and DR Congo.
Uses
Traditional medicine - leaves and bark decoction treat malaria; bark chewed treats diarrhea, diabetes, high blood pressure and venereal disease; fruits eaten by many animals.
Ecological importance
Fleshy fruit is eaten by numerous animals, aiding seed dispersal; its large leaves and flowers likely support insect pollinators.
Ibisobanuro
Amababi n'ibishishwa by'igiti bivura Malariya. Kivura gucibwamo, umuvuduko w'amaraso n'indwara zifata mu myanya ndanga gitsina.