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Useful Tropical Plants

Ocotea kenyensis

(Chiov.) Robyns & R.Wilczek

Lauraceae

+ Synonyms

Ocotea gardneri Hutch. & M.B.Moss

Ocotea viridis Kosterm.

Tylostemon kenyensis Chiov.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Ocotea kenyensis is an evergreen tree with a much-branched, rounded crown; it usually grows up to 30 metres tall, but exceptionally to 40 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.
,
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
]. The usually straight bole can be unbranched for around 8 metres; it is up to 100cm in diameter, occasionally to 150cm[
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.
].
The tree is commoly harvested from the wild for its valuable timber, which is used locally and also traded. The plant also has local medicinal uses.
The tree yields a superior hardwood, for which is heavily exploited through most of its range. In some areas the populations are very small, e.g., the Zimbabwean population consists of four immature individuals. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
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

308
Title
Flora Zambesiaca
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.

Range

Tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Sudan, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

A canopy tree in evergreen rainforest at elevations from 1,100 - 2,600 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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusVulnerable
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moderate to higher elevations in the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,600 metres. The mean annual rainfall in the area of distribution ranges from 1,500 - 2,200mm[
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.
].

The tree grows fairly rapidly[
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.
].
Trees respond well to coppicing[
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.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A bark decoction is used in traditional medicine as an antitussive[
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.
]. The bark is chewed to treat diarrhoea[
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.
].

Other Uses

The heartwood is pale golden brown to dark brown, with blackish markings. The grain is often wavy; texture moderately fine; lustrous. The wood is moderately heavy; fairly durable and moderately resistant to termite and marine borer attacks, but susceptible to Lyctus attack. It saws and works satisfactorily with both hand and machine tools, but picking up of grain at the surfaces may occur; sharp cutting edges are recommended to obtain surfaces with a nice finish; gluing properties are satisfactory; the wood slices and peels well. The heartwood is moderately resistant to impregnation by preservatives. The wood is used for flooring, panelling, furniture and carving. It is suitable for light construction, joinery, interior trim, vehicle bodies, handles, ladders, sporting goods, toys, novelties, turnery, veneer and plywood[
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.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
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.
].

Propagation

Seed - needs to be sown when fresh. The seed is sensitive to desiccation, but can be stored for a short period in moist sawdust[
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.
].
Propagation by root suckers is easy; these are often produced abundantly[
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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-01. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ocotea+kenyensis>

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