Common Name:

General Information

Dombeya torrida is a deciduous tree with an umbrella-shaped crown; it can grow 7 - 24 metres tall[]. The bole is generally slightly curved or crooked, up to 120cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It can be grown as a pioneer species in reforestation projects and is also grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

The fine hairs on the fruit may cause eye irritation[].

Botanical References

,

Range

West tropical Africa - Eritrea, Ethiopia, southern Sudan, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique.

Habitat

Forest, scrub, secondary bushland, grassland and cultivated land, at elevations from 1,600 - 3,400 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

In cultivation, species in this genus generally grow best in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil and a position in full sun or partial shade[].
A fairly fast-growing tree[].
The tree responds well to coppicing and pollarding[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the flowers and bark is taken as a treatment against indigestion[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fairly fast-growing tree that is a natural pioneer, it can be used in planting schemes for restoring native woodland[, ].
The fallen leaves improve the soil[].
The flowers produce good nectar for bees[].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the bark is made into rope, string and cloth[].

The heartwood is uniformly pale brown, often with a central core of dark brown wood with olive streaks; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually straight, texture fine to medium. The wood is strong and tough but with low to moderate durability, the sapwood is susceptible to attack by termites, marine borers and Lyctus borers. It saws and planes well; nails without splitting; but it is not suitable for turnery[]. The wood is suitable for flooring, ship and boat building, vehicle bodies, furniture, handles and ladders, sporting goods, agricultural implements, yokes, poles and piles. Traditionally, it is mainly used for bows, construction, poles, tool handles and spoons. In Tanzania logs are carved into traditional stools[].
The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - both fresh and stored seed normally germinates in 15 - 20 days[].
Cuttings of semi-ripe wood, preferably with some bottom heat to encourage rooting[].

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