Umukore (Forest Dombeya)
Dombeya torrida
A much-branched shrub or tree (12-15m, occasionally to 25m) with an umbrella-shaped crown. Its large, densely hairy, heart-shaped leaves and nectar-rich white flower umbels make it one of the region's most important bee-forage trees.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umukore
- English name
- Forest Dombeya
- Scientific name
- Dombeya torrida
- Family
- Malvaceae
Habitat
Afromontane forest edges, forest patches, gallery forest and mountain grassland/farmland, at 1,600-3,400m.
Distribution
Eritrea and Ethiopia south through Central and East Africa to Yemen/Saudi Arabia; confirmed present in Rwanda.
Uses
Wood for fuel; herbal medicine - a decoction of flowers and bark is taken as a treatment against indigestion. It is a forage tree.
Ecological importance
A major bee-forage/nectar tree supporting honey production; a useful pioneer species in reforestation, providing shade-tree structure at forest edges.
Ibisobanuro
Inkwi zo gucana. Amababi avura kutitima.