Ocotea usambarensis
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Ocotea usambarensis is a species of Ocotea (family Lauraceae), native to eastern Africa in Kenya, Tanzania, and locally in Uganda, where it occurs at 1600-2600 m altitude in high rainfall montane cloud forest. Common names include East African Camphorwood, Mkulo (Tanzania), Mwiha (Uganda), Muwong, and Maasi.
It is a large evergreen tree growing to 35 m (exceptionally 45 m) tall, with fast growth (up to 2 m per year) when young. The leaves are opposite (sometimes alternate on fast-growing stems), elliptic to oval, 4-16 cm long and 2.5-9 cm wide, dark green above, pale below, with an entire margin and an acuminate apex. The foliage has a distinct scent of camphor. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow; the fruit is a small drupe 1 cm long.
Uses
It is an important timber tree, valued for the resistance of its wood to fungal decay.References
- [AgroForestry Tree Database: Ocotea usambarensis]
- [FAO Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: Ocotea usambarensis]
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