Umudobori (Umurwamporo) (Pigeon Wood)
Trema orientale
An evergreen shrub or tree to 18m with a short, basally-swollen trunk and rounded, spreading crown. A classic pioneer species, often the first tree seen colonising a fresh clearing or damaged riverbank.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umudobori (Umurwamporo)
- English name
- Pigeon Wood
- Scientific name
- Trema orientale
- Family
- Cannabaceae
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
Habitat
A classic pioneer species of forest clearings, flood-damaged riverbanks and denuded soils in the lowland humid tropics.
Distribution
Broad Old World tropical/warm-temperate range from South Africa through the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent and East Asia/Pacific; Rwanda falls within its documented African range.
Uses
Firewood. Traditional medicine (leaves and bark) to treat coughs, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis.
Ecological importance
A key early-succession pioneer tree that stabilises riverbanks and disturbed soils; fruit is eaten by birds (hence 'pigeon wood'), which disperse the seed.
Ibisobanuro
Inkwi zo gucana. Amababi n'igishishwa cy'igiti bivura inkorora, kubabara mu mihogo, asima, n'inwara z'ubuhumekero.