Strombosia scheffleri
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strombosia scheffleri is a medium-sized tree that is native to Tropical Africa, the species is sometimes planted as a shade tree in coffee and cocoa plantations. It belongs to the family Olacaceae.
| Strombosia scheffleri | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Olacaceae |
| Genus: | Strombosia |
| Species: | S. scheffleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Strombosia scheffleri | |
Description
Strombosia scheffleri grows up to 25 to 35 meters tall with a straight trunk that is sometimes buttressed at the base.[1] The bark is light brown to greyish or yellowish green in color and flaky, while the slash is creamy revealing a reddish inner bark; its stems tend to hang downwards.[2] Leaves are opposite and have petioles; leaflets are broaldly elliptic in outline, up to 20 cm long and 9 cm wide.[2] Inflorescence are arranged in axillary fascicles with flowers that are greenish yellow in color. Fruit is a subglobose berry, up to 1.9 to 2.5 cm in diameter.[2] The plant's fruiting season is between May and September.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Occurs in Tropical Africa in the Guinea-Congolian biographical region eastwards to southern Sudan and southwards to Mozambique.[4][5] Found in Afromontane rain forests and gallery forest.[5]
Ecology
The fruits and seeds are eaten by red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, mangabays, and redtail monkeys while seeds are generally dispersed over long distances by bats.[3]
Uses
It is planted as a shade tree in banana, coffee and cocoa plantations.[1]