Morus_mesozygia

<i>Afromorus</i>

Afromorus

Species of tree

Afromorus mesozygia, known as black mulberry or African mulberry, is the only species in the genus Afromorus. The plant is a small- to medium-sized forest tree of Tropical Africa. Its leaves and fruit provide food for the mantled guereza, a colobus monkey native to much of Tropical Africa,[1] and for the common chimpanzee of West and Central Africa. It is also a commercial hardwood.

Quick Facts Afromorus, Scientific classification ...

The trees can be found in Ngogo in Kibale National Park in Uganda, where they are a food source for chimpanzees.[2]

Description

Afromorus mesozygia is a dioecuous tree that can grow up to 35 m tall, the bark is smooth, greyish in color with irregular white patches.[3] The slash is yellow exuding a white latex. Leaves are distichous, the stipules are caducous and up to 10 mm long.[3][4] Surface of leaflets has a leathery or papery look, the leaflets are elliptical to broadly ovate in shape and tend to be between 3-13 cm long and 2-8 cm wide with a margin that is serrate to crenate. The apex is acuminate to acute and base is cordate.[3]

Inflorescence is an axillary spike and the fruit is drupe like.

Distribution and habitat

Occurs in Tropical Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and southwards to KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Found in rain and deciduous forests.[3]

Uses

The species is sometimes cultivated as a shade tree or for ornamental purposes. Leaves and stem bark extracts are used in decoctions for pain management.[5]

The fruit is edible and eaten in various communities and the foliage are fodder for animals.

Wood obtained from the species is used for carpentry work and also gathered for use as firewood.

References

  1. [1]
    Fashing, Peter J. (2001). "Feeding Ecology of Guerezas in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya: The Importance of Moraceae Fruit in Their Diet". International Journal of Primatology. 22 (4): 579–609. doi:10.1023/A:1010737601922. S2CID 22693241.
  2. [2]
    Roach, John (2017-09-29). "Chimp Gangs Kill to Expand Territory". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  3. [3]
    Berg, Cornelis C.; Hijman, Maria E. E. (1989). Moraceae. Flora of tropical East Africa / prepared at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with assistance from the East African Herbarium. Ed.: R. M. Polhill. Rotterdam: Balkema [u.a.] ISBN 978-90-6191-350-4.
  4. [4]
    Louppe, Dominique, ed. (2008). Plant resources of tropical Africa. 7,1: Timbers: 1 / ed.: D. Louppe; A. A. Oteng-Amoako. General ed.: R. H. M. J. Lemmens. Weikersheim: Margraf. ISBN 978-3-8236-1542-2.
  5. [5]
    Lemmens, Rudolphe (2023-08-02). Useful Trees of East Africa: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. BoD - Books on Demand. p. 9. ISBN 978-2-322-54633-6.


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