AFROTROPICAL Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest
plants
Order Magnoliales
Family Myristicaceae
(Viavia, Entebbe, Uganda)Pycnanthus angolensis, 'African Nutmeg', 'Ilomba'. Cultivated for it's many medicinal properties, as well as burning oil and soap. Found in forests and swamps in tropical Africa.
(Monocots)
Order Arecales
Family Arecaceae: Palms
Elaeis guineensis, 'African Oil Palm'. Taken from tropical African forests and swamps, and planted throughout tropics of the world for it's oil.
Order Poales
Family Poaceae
The centre of bamboo diversity is found in Asia, but there are also many species on the Pacific islands, a small range in the Neotropics and in Africa. They are among the fastest growing plants in the world. In Africa, bamboo is recorded being eaten by Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Elephants. The hard round stem is light but stiff, and useful for humans in construction.
(Bwindi, Uganda)Order Zingiberales
Family Musaceae: Bananas
Ensete ventricosum, 'False (African) Banana', (Ruboni Camp, Uganda).
Order Rosales
Family Urticaceae
(Viavia, Uganda)Myrianthus arboreus, 'Giant Yellow Mulberry', 'Monkey Fruit'. Large leaves, large yellow compound looking fruit. Fruit edible. Young leaves popular in a soup so well regarded that there is a saying: "one will kill his child for the sake of ibishere soup". Leaves, bark and seeds used for medicine. Found in rainforest and on edge of forest, including villages, in central and eastern Africa.
Order Sapindales
Family Anacardiaceae
(Viavia, Entebbe, Uganda)'Ochol',Pseudospondias microcarpa, Apparently cut twigs smell like mango. The fig looking fruit has been recorded to be eaten in small amounts (have not tried this, do not recommend). The Ghanian name means 'close your eyes' from reports of people falling asleep underneath it; narcotic or just nice shade? Found in forests, often in flooded areas, of tropical Africa.
Order Santales
Family Loranthaceae & Santalaceae (and Viscaceae)
(Rwenzori, Uganda)'Mistletoe'.
Order Lamiales
Family Bignoniaceae
Kigelia 'Sausage Tree' (Rwenzori, Uganda).
Spathodea
This genus contains only one species.
Spathodea campanulata, 'African Tulip Oak' (Rwenzori, Uganda). Neither an oak nor obviously a tulip. Large red flowers. Found in west, central and east Africa. This species had been introduced widely throughout the other tropics of the world, but is often considered a major weed.
Help! To identify...
(Bigodi Swamp, Uganda)