Umuvumu w'ishyamba (Urnfig)
Trilepisium madagascariense
A medium-to-large tree with smooth grey bark exuding cream latex when cut, and glossy dark-green elliptic leaves with a pronounced drip-tip. Its tiny flowers are enclosed in a distinctive urn-shaped receptacle - the source of the name 'urnfig'.
- Kinyarwanda name
- Umuvumu w'ishyamba
- English name
- Urnfig
- Scientific name
- Trilepisium madagascariense
- Family
- Moraceae
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
Habitat
Evergreen and semi-deciduous forest, riverine/flooded forest and forest patches, often along rivers and streams, up to and above 2,000m.
Distribution
Tropical/subtropical West, Central, East and Southern Africa, plus Madagascar and Annobón; confirmed present in Rwanda.
Uses
Edible fruits; latex used to waterproof bags.
Ecological importance
Fruits are eaten and likely dispersed by frugivorous birds and fruit bats; a larval food plant for the butterfly Cyrestis camillus sublineata.
Ibisobanuro
Ibiryo by'inyoni, Amata yacyo (latex) atuma imifuka bayasiza atava (Amazi adahita).