Afromorus
| Afromorus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Afromorus E.M.Gardner |
| Species: | A. mesozygia |
| Binomial name | |
| Afromorus mesozygia (Stapf) E.M.Gardner 2021 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Afromorus mesozygia, known as black mulberry or African mulberry, is the only species in the genus Afromorus. The plant is a small- to medium-sized forest tree of Tropical Africa. Known for its tasty black fruit, it is also a commercial hardwood, and its leaves provide utritious fodder for various animals.
Description
[edit source]Afromorus mesozygia is a dioecuous tree that can grow up to 35 m tall, the bark is smooth, greyish in color with irregular white patches.[1] The slash is yellow exuding a white latex. Leaves are distichous, the stipules are caducous and up to 10 mm long.[1][2] Surface of leaflets has a leathery or papery look, the leaflets are elliptical to broadly ovate in shape and tend to be between 3-13 cm long and 2-8 cm wide with a margin that is serrate to crenate. The apex is acuminate to acute and base is cordate.[1]
The inflorescence is an axillary spike and the fruit is drupe like.
Distribution and habitat
[edit source]It occurs in Tropical Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia in the north, and southwards to KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Its habitat are rainforests and deciduous forests.[1]
Ecology and uses
[edit source]These trees are a food source for the common chimpanzee of West and Central Africa, e.g. in Ngogo in Kibale National Park in Uganda[3] Leaves and fruit also provide food for the mantled guereza, a colobus monkey native to much of Tropical Africa.[4]
African mulberry is sometimes cultivated as a shade tree or for ornamental purposes. Leaves and stem bark extracts are used in decoctions for pain management.[5]
The fruit is eaten by various human communities in its range, many of which also use the foliage as fodder for livestock. Wood obtained from the species is used for carpentry work and also gathered for use as firewood.
References
[edit source]- 1 2 3 4 Berg, Cornelis C.; Hijman, Maria E. E. (1989). Moraceae. Flora of tropical East Africa / prepared at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with assistance from the East African Herbarium. Ed.: R. M. Polhill. Rotterdam: Balkema [u.a.] ISBN 978-90-6191-350-4.
- ↑ Louppe, Dominique, ed. (2008). Plant resources of tropical Africa. 7,1: Timbers: 1 / ed.: D. Louppe; A. A. Oteng-Amoako. General ed.: R. H. M. J. Lemmens. Weikersheim: Margraf. ISBN 978-3-8236-1542-2.
- ↑ Roach, John (2017-09-29). "Chimp Gangs Kill to Expand Territory". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
- ↑ Fashing, Peter J. (2001). "Feeding Ecology of Guerezas in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya: The Importance of Moraceae Fruit in Their Diet". International Journal of Primatology. 22 (4): 579–609. doi:10.1023/A:1010737601922. S2CID 22693241.
- ↑ Lemmens, Rudolphe (2023-08-02). Useful Trees of East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. BoD - Books on Demand. p. 9. ISBN 978-2-322-54633-6.
External links
[edit source]- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Afromorus mesozygia". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
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