Common Name: Hafitra Makoroho

General Information

Dombeya acerifolia is a small tree growing up to 15 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre and wood.
Dombeya acerifolia is threatened by its habitat loss due to logging, deforestation, charcoal production, shifting agriculture, fire and illegal gold mining. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - eastern and central Madagascar

Habitat

Forest and secondary vegetation, thriving in humid locations such as along water courses; at elevations from 600 - 1,200 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Fibre from the bark is made into rope and used for weaving[]. Formerly the bark was beaten with a mallet to obtain barkcloth, later the fibre was extracted by crushing the bark, after which the fibre was combed or scutched, making it suitable for spinning and weaving. Nowadays, the fibre is usually extracted after retting, and combed. It is stored locally until needed[]. The fibre is of good quality, and easy to extract and process. The best fibre is obtained from young, thin bark[].
The bark is used as a tying material[]., and was formerly made into barkcloth[].

The large, soft leaves are used for washing dishes[].

The darker heartwood is normally distinctly demarcated from the paler, cream-coloured sapwood, but in young trees both may have the same white or pink colour. The wood turns reddish on drying. It is light in weight, soft and easy to work, with an average stability in service. The wood is not durable, being liable to attacks by fungi and insects, and the relatively small size of the logs limits its usability. The wood is used locally for purposes where workability is more important than durability. It is used for making rafts and considered suitable for non-visible parts of furniture, interior trim, boxes and other forms of packaging[].

Propagation

Seed is very small but can be extracted from fully ripened, dry flower heads. Its viability declines within 3 months, so fresh seed has to be used for sowing. Seed is to be sown in properly drained seedbeds. Seedlings emerge in about 3 weeks[].
Cuttings of semi-ripe wood, preferably with some bottom heat to encourage rooting[].

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