Umufu (Umuhuririzi) (Real Yellowwood)
Podocarpus latifolius
A large, slow-growing, long-lived evergreen conifer to 30-35m with strap-shaped dark green leaves. It bears a berry-like, fleshy reddish-purple seed cone (not a true fruit) that birds eat and disperse.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umufu (Umuhuririzi)
- English name
- Real Yellowwood
- Scientific name
- Podocarpus latifolius
- Family
- Podocarpaceae
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
Habitat
Afromontane forest - evergreen/cloud forest and forest-grassland mosaics at 900-3,250m.
Distribution
Across the Albertine Rift and much of eastern/southern Africa; in Nyungwe National Park it dominates the hard-leafed cloud forest at around 2,600-2,950m elevation.
Uses
Timber, ornamental tree (avenue tree).
Ecological importance
Birds and other animals eat the fleshy seed-cone aril and disperse the seeds, supporting Afromontane forest wildlife.
Ibisobanuro
mbaho nziza, Igiti batera ku mihanda yo mu mijyi.