Common Name:

General Information

Lannea alata is a shrub or much-branched tree with drooping branches, growing 1 - 6 metres tall[, ]. The stem base and roots are covered with brown thread-like growths resembling cotton wool[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local consumption. This species is said to be a fine fruit tree for dry lands[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - southern Somalia, Kenya, northern Tanzania.

Habitat

Dry Acacia, Commiphora bushlands; rocky outcrops and hill slopes; coastal forest edges; at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres[]. The plant is locally common and can form pure stands[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. The fruit is a reddish, ovate drupe 9 - 14mm long x 8 - 11mm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stem base and roots are covered with brown thread-like growths resembling cotton wool[]. This 'wool', stripped out of the root bark, is used for padding and for stuffing mattresses[].

Propagation

Seed -

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