Common Name:

General Information

Dombeya pilosa is a tree that can grow around 15 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be up to 70cm in diameter. All growing organs are sticky and covered with a white indumentum of stellate and simple hairs 2 - 3mm long[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre and wood. Flowering trees have ornamental value, especially the male ones, which have larger flowers that fall before withering and turning brown[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - Réunion.

Habitat

Fairly common in humid forest and other moist locations, usually at elevations from 1,000 - 1,500 metres but sometimes descending to 500 metres or ascending to 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
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 dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[, ].
The plant hybridizes in the wild with Dombeya ficulnea[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Methanolic extracts of the leaf and stem have shown some radical scavenging and antioxidant activity[].

Other Uses

The bark fibre is used for tying, and sometimes trees are found with strips of bark removed[].

The wood is lightweight and not durable. It is not very important, but is sometimes used in construction[].

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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