Dombeya subviscosa
Hochr.
Malvaceae
Dombeya ambongensis Arènes
Dombeya ambongensis ihosyensis Arènes
Dombeya ambongensis sakarahae Arènes
Dombeya ankarafantsikae Arènes
Dombeya boeniensis Arènes
Dombeya mafimafy Arènes
Common Name: Sely Ara
General Information
Dombeya subviscosa is a usually deciduous large shrub or a small to large tree, usually up to 10 metres tall but sometimes up to 25 metres. The bole is usually around 20 - 30cm in diameter, exceptionally to 50cm[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1949- Title
- A Taxonomic Revision of Dombeya Sect. Decastemon (Malvaceae)
- Publication
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 99(4):553-619. 2014.
- Author
- Applequist W.L.
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.3417/2011113
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed revision of a section of this large genus.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre and wood.
Dombeya subviscosa is threatened mainly by the destruction of its habitat, causing a continuing decline in the number of subpopulations, quality of its habitat and area of occurrence. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1949- Title
- A Taxonomic Revision of Dombeya Sect. Decastemon (Malvaceae)
- Publication
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 99(4):553-619. 2014.
- Author
- Applequist W.L.
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.3417/2011113
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed revision of a section of this large genus.
Range
Africa - northwestern, southern and southwestern Madagascar
Habitat
Dry forests, forest remnants, bush and transitional forests; at elevations up to 850 metres[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Plants are found in the wild on sandy and rocky soils[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. 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[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The bark yields a good fibre for rope-making[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
1949- Title
- A Taxonomic Revision of Dombeya Sect. Decastemon (Malvaceae)
- Publication
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 99(4):553-619. 2014.
- Author
- Applequist W.L.
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.3417/2011113
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed revision of a section of this large genus.
]. (As Dombeya boeniensis)
The bark yields a good fibre used for making rope and for coarse weaving. The fibre is said to be particularly strong and ropes made from it are used for pulling heavy loads. The fibre was formerly used for tying together pieces of frameworks[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. (As Dombeya ambongensis)
The wood is white and soft, and not much used[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It is used for furniture, construction and fencing[
1949- Title
- A Taxonomic Revision of Dombeya Sect. Decastemon (Malvaceae)
- Publication
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 99(4):553-619. 2014.
- Author
- Applequist W.L.
- Website
- http:// http://dx.doi.org/10.3417/2011113
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed revision of a section of this large genus.
].
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[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cuttings of semi-ripe wood, preferably with some bottom heat to encourage rooting[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
