African Greenheart
Pepper-bark Tree

Warburgia ugandensis

African Greenheart, Warburgia ugandensis, in Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

Observed among savanna vegetation near Lake Elementaita, Kenya. Dec. 2015.

TREE: A large shrub or small tree with dark green foliage. Mature trees in ideal conditions can reach 30m. The timber has been over-exploited leaving few large trees to see.

FLOWERS: The flowers cream to light green in color. Ten petals in two rows are subtended by five green sepals. Both are rather thick of ovate in shape.

LEAVES: Leaves are simple, alternate and clustered near the branch ends. The upper surface is glossy green and the margins are smooth.

RANGE: Widely distributed in upland areas of Kenya.

FRUIT: The globular fruit, about 3cm long. Leathery skins turn purplish and enclose several oily seeds.

UNARMED. Without thorns.

Warburgia ugandensis flowers in Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

Canellaceae -Canella Family

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, Created on 4 April 2016.