Common Name:

General Information

Afrocarpus mannii is an evergreen tree with a broad crown; it can grow around 15 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally.
The current population of this species is confined to the Pico de Sao Tomé from above 1,450 m a.s.l. to the summit. This area is less than 25 km2 within which the area of occupancy of Afrocarpus mannii must be substantially smaller than this. It is certainly smaller than the threshold for Vulnerable under D2. As the only known population, it is vulnerable to stochastic events such as volcanic eruptions, fires or severe storms. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - São Tomé

Habitat

High montane cloud forest; at elevations from 1,450 - 2,142 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Afrocarpus mannii can tolerate short-lived, light frosts when dormant, withstanding temperatures falling to between -1°c and +4.4°c[].

A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

This species has been planted in rural areas in Cameroon and Ivory Coast and probably elsewhere in West Africa as a canopy tree or windbreak for coffee plantations and as an amenity tree in villages[].

Other Uses

The timber of Afrocarpus mannii is valuable in trees of good size and shape, which have become scarce. It is used for light construction[].

Propagation

Seed - remains viable for several years in normal storage.
The seed has two types of dormancy; a chemical, which is overcome by removing the fleshy layer and a mechanical, imposed by the hard seedcoat. To ensure a high and even germination the seedcoat must be broken and removed. This can be done in a vice but it is very time-consuming. Freshly collected seeds will normally germinate well, up to 60% in nine weeks, even with seedcoat but once the seeds have been dried, germination can take more than six months unless the seedcoat is removed. Some reports say that soaking in saturated salt water just before sowing can improve germination. Others recommend stratification between two layers of compost for 3 - 5 days in order to weaken the seedcoat[]. The seeds are sown directly in nursery bags or in seedbeds in a mixture of compost and sand (1:1). The seed must be pushed into the mixture and covered with a fine layer of soil. The mixture must never be allowed to dry out[].
Cuttings taken from end shoots (as opposed to cuttings from lateral branches and shoots) in order to produce plants with upright growth[].

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