Kampala Tree and Palm Directory

Tree Species
Common Name
Tree Description
Tree Uses

English: Small fruited teclea Ateso: Ejoroi, ekude Kwamba: Mubio Luganda: Nzo Lugishu: Lutati Lugwe: Mudati Lugwere: Nakamole Lunyuli: Mugangwe Luo A: Achacha, opodeko, atachogat Luo J: Oya Luo L: Achacho Lusoga: Luzu Rukiga: Muzo Runyankore: Muzo Runyoro: Muzo Rutoro: Muzo Sebei: Gurio.

+ Tree Species

Teclea nobilis

+ Tree Family

Rutaceae

+ Ecology

Teclea nobilis is native to Uganda. One of the largest trees in this genus, widely distributed in wet highland forests often found with Podocarpus and Juniperus but also in bushland and savannah extending from Ethiopia to South Africa. In Uganda it grows in colonizing forests, thickets, forest edges and mixed forest from lowland to lower montane areas. In Kampala, this species can be found within Uganda Golf course club, Makerere II zone C, Makerere university, Children's park among other places.

+ Description

An evergreen shrub or tree 2-12 m or taller in rain forest with a crooked trunk and dark, spreading crown.

BARK: smooth, grey, with ring marks.

LEAVES: compound, 3 leaflets on stalks to 6 cm, leaflets dark shiny green, 5-15 cm long, tapering to the tip, edge wavy, midrib stands out below, leaf stalks and branchlets without hairs.

FLOWERS: very small, cream-yellow, fragrant, in loose sprays to 12 cm.

FRUIT: orange-red and smooth becoming wrinkled, very many on a branched stalk to 20 cm, each ovoid, pointed, 5-6 mm, containing one seed.

+ Uses

Agroforestry: can be used in apiculture, provides shade or shelter, soil improver.

Provides good fuelwood.

Provides poles that are used for fencing and construction.

The wood is used to make bows, tool handles, barkcloth mallets, clubs and walking sticks. 

Medicine: leaves, roots. http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5327e/x5327e1n.htm, http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Teclea_nobilis.PDF

+ Propagation

Seeds, wildings.

+ Management

Moderate to slow growing. Coppicing, pollarding.

+ Remarks

The wood is tough and pale and due to high demand the tree has been overexploited throughout the country. Can be grown in stands for timber and fuel. The wood is used for making bark cloth mallets and is valued for its strength and durability.



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