Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Afromontane bamboo (B)
Description
Sinarundinaria alpina (synonyms: Arundinaria alpina, Yushania alpina) is one of the four bamboo species (giant grasses with erect woody stems of 2 - 20 m (or even taller) that sometimes form pure and virtually impenetrable communities, and that persist for several years, then flower gregariously and then die back) that are indigenous to Africa (one other species is Oxythenanthera abyssinica (mapped as Lowland bamboo ( L ) in the VECEA map). Sinarundinaria alpina occurs on most of high mountains of East Africa (Ethiopia to southern Tanzania), but south of Tanzania it is only known to occur on the North Viphya Plateau (Malawi), Dedza Mt. (Malawi) and Mt. Mulanje (Malawi); White 1983 pp. 55 and 166). The species presently does not occur on the North Viphya Plateau (C. Dudley, personal observations).
In East Africa, Sinarundinaria alpina is mostly found between 2400 and 3000 m, although it ascends on Mt. Kenya to 3500 m and descends in the Uluguru Mts. (Tanzania) to 1630 m. It grows most vigorously on deep volcanic soils and gentle slopes where the annual rainfall exceeds 1250 mm. The largest areas are found on the Aberdare Range (Kenya, 65000 ha), the Mau Range (Kenya, 51000 ha) and Mt Kenya (39000 ha; White 1983 p. 166).
V. Minani ; Figure 4.2 in VECEA Volume 5
Plant species
The main species recorded to occur within this vegetation type are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard. Between brackets the English vernacular name of the species and the documented country distribution of the species (B=Burundi, E=Ethiopia, K=Kenya, M=Malawi, R=Rwanda, T=Tanzania, U=Uganda, Z=Zambia) is provided.
Based on information on species presence in national manifestations of vegetation types, each species was classified as a regionally dominant, characteristic, present or marginal species for a vegetation type (Read more ...)
- Dominant - if the regional documentation classified the species as dominant.
- Characteristic - if the species was documented to be characteristic for at least half of all the national manifestations of the vegetation type and if the species was characteristic in at least two national manifestations of the vegetation type. Species were always classified as characteristic if the species was a regional indicator or regional characteristic species for the vegetation type.
- Present - if the species was documented to be characteristic in at least one of the national manifestations of the vegetation type or if the species was documented to be present in a least half of all the national manifestations of the vegetation type. Species that were already listed as characteristic were excluded.
- Marginal distribution - if some of the national documentation listed the species, but where the species was not included as characteristic or present.
- Dominant species
- Characteristic species
Cornus volkensii (Afrocrania, BKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Ilex mitis (African holly, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (BEKMRTUZ),
Nuxia congesta (Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Podocarpus latifolius (East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Rapanea melanophloeos (Cape beech, EKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU)
- Species present
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain)
Products and environmental services of tree species
Documented products and environmental services for the tree species occurring in this vegetation type (B) are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard. Between brackets information is given on the status of each species ('dom' indicates dominant species, 'cha' characteristic species, 'pre' other species and 'mar' species of marginal occurrence), the English vernacular name of the species and the documented country distribution of the species (B=Burundi, E=Ethiopia, K=Kenya, M=Malawi, R=Rwanda, T=Tanzania, U=Uganda, Z=Zambia).
Wood
- Firewood
Cornus volkensii (Cha, Afrocrania, BKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Ilex mitis (Cha, African holly, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Nuxia congesta (Cha, Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Rapanea melanophloeos (Cha, Cape beech, EKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Cha, Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU),
Hypericum revolutum (Pre, Curry bush, BEKMRTUZ),
Schefflera volkensii (Pre, EKTU),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ),
Peddiea fischeri (Mar, BKRTU),
Rhamnus prinoides (Mar, Shiny leaf, EKMRTUZ),
Sambucus ebulus (Mar, Dwarf Elderberry, KTU)
- Charcoal
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Ilex mitis (Cha, African holly, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Nuxia congesta (Cha, Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Rapanea melanophloeos (Cha, Cape beech, EKMRTUZ),
Schefflera volkensii (Pre, EKTU),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ),
Peddiea fischeri (Mar, BKRTU)
- Timber, Furniture, Construction
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Cornus volkensii (Cha, Afrocrania, BKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Ilex mitis (Cha, African holly, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Rapanea melanophloeos (Cha, Cape beech, EKMRTUZ),
Hypericum revolutum (Pre, Curry bush, BEKMRTUZ)
- Poles, Posts
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Rapanea melanophloeos (Cha, Cape beech, EKMRTUZ),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ)
- Flooring, Panelling
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ)
- Beehives
- Veneer, Plywood
- Tools, Tool handles, Shafts
- Carvings, Utensils, Walking stick, Bow, Arrow
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ)
- Farm implements
Human consumption
- Edible fruit, Edible nut, Edible seed
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Rubus apetalus (Mar, Wild bramble, BEKMRTUZ),
Sambucus ebulus (Mar, Dwarf Elderberry, KTU)
- Vegetable, Edible leaves, Edible roots
- Seasoning, Flavouring
- Medicine
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Ilex mitis (Cha, African holly, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Nuxia congesta (Cha, Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Cha, Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU),
Schefflera volkensii (Pre, EKTU),
Rhamnus prinoides (Mar, Shiny leaf, EKMRTUZ),
Rubus apetalus (Mar, Wild bramble, BEKMRTUZ)
Animal consumption
- Fodder
- Bee forage
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Nuxia congesta (Cha, Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Cha, Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU),
Hypericum revolutum (Pre, Curry bush, BEKMRTUZ),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ)
Environmental services
- Shade
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Cha, Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU),
Schefflera volkensii (Pre, EKTU)
- Ornamental, Avenue tree
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Podocarpus latifolius (Cha, East African yellow-wood, BKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ),
Tabernaemontana stapfiana (Cha, Soccerball fruit, BKMRTU),
Schefflera volkensii (Pre, EKTU),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ),
Rubus apetalus (Mar, Wild bramble, BEKMRTUZ),
Sambucus ebulus (Mar, Dwarf Elderberry, KTU)
- Mulch
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ)
- Soil conservation, Soil improvement
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Dombeya torrida (Cha, Forest dombeya, BEKMRTU),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Hypericum revolutum (Pre, Curry bush, BEKMRTUZ)
- Windbreak
Faurea saligna (Cha, Beechwood, BKMRTUZ),
Hagenia abyssinica (Cha, Hagenia, BEKMRTUZ),
Juniperus procera (Cha, East African pencil cedar, EKMTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Prunus africana (Cha, Red stinkwood, BEKMRTUZ)
Other products
- Fibre, Weaving, Rope
- Thatch, Roofing, Mats, Baskets
- Basketry
- Tannin, Dye
- Live fence, Dead fence
Sinarundinaria alpina (Dom, African alpine bamboo, BEKMRTU),
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Cha, BEKMRTUZ),
Nuxia congesta (Cha, Common wild elder, EKMRTUZ),
Agauria salicifolia (Mar, BEKMRTUZ),
Rubus apetalus (Mar, Wild bramble, BEKMRTUZ),
Sambucus ebulus (Mar, Dwarf Elderberry, KTU)
- Ceremonial
- Traditional uses
- Toothbrushes
- Veterinary medicine, Vermifuge
For more detailed information about the species occurrences see this excel workbook. It provides country specific information on species composition for this vegetation type. It also allows you to select a subset of useful tree species to provide desired products and services. For each species links to a number of websites / databases with information about this species are provided as well.
Conservation status
The table shows the area (km2) of the vegetation type and the percentage of this area explicitly designated for biodiversity, species or landscape protection (A) and areas designated for both protection and sustainable use objectives (B). Only the nationally designated protected areas were included.
| PNV | Area (km2) | A (%) | B (%) |
| B | 4,084 | 13.50 | 66.10 |
| Fd/B | 295 | 82.00 | 11.20 |
A) Include the IUCN categories I - IV; B) Include the IUCN categories V - VI and the protected areas without IUCN classification. Read more
There are seven different International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
management categories, based on their principle management objectives. Six of these can be found in the VECEA region. Based on
van Breugel et al. (2015), we reclassified these six categories into two groups. The first (A) is composed of the IUCN categories Ib, II, III and IV, all of which are explicitly designated for biodiversity, species or landscape protection. The second (B) is composed of IUCN category V, designated to protect a landscape created through interaction of people and nature, and VI, which is designated for both protection and sustainable use objectives. In group B we also included the protected areas not classified into one of the IUCN categories. These include different types of national or community forest reserves and areas that have a focus on wildlife or game management. It should be noted that the aggregation of the protected areas in these two groups (A and B) does not imply any assumptions from our side on the effectiveness of the management in these different categories.
Links
Species selection tool
Other vegetation types
//vegetationmap4africa.org
Documentation
Citation and terms of use
Click here for the full terms of use, disclaimer and errors and omissions statement that accompanies our data. When using our data, you agree with these terms.
Citation
Kindt R, van Breugel P, Orwa C, Lillesø JPB, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Useful tree species for Eastern Africa: a species selection tool based on the VECEA map. Version 2.0. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Forest & Landscape Denmark. //vegetationmap4africa.org
van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø JPB, Bingham M, Demissew S, Dudley C, Friis I, Gachathi F, Kalema J, Mbago F, Moshi HN, Mulumba, J, Namaganda M, Ndangalasi HJ, Ruffo CK, Védaste M, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Potential Natural Vegetation Map of Eastern Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). Version 2.0. Forest and Landscape (Denmark) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). URL: //vegetationmap4africa.org
van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø J-PB, van Breugel M (2015) Environmental Gap Analysis to Prioritize Conservation Efforts in Eastern Africa. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0121444. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121444
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The VECEA team and its partners make no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the use of the material appearing in this dataset with regard to their correctness, reliability, accuracy, or otherwise. The material and geographic designations in this dataset do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the VECEA team, the Copenhagen University or the World Agroforestry Center concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, nor concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The VECEA team, the Copenhagen University nor the World Agroforestry Center shall be responsible or liable to any person, firm or corporation for any loss, damage, injury, claim or liability of any kind or character based on or resulting from any information contained in the dataset.
Errors and omissions
The VECEA team endeavour to maintain accurate and up-to-date data at all times. However, if errors or omissions are identified, the user should notify the VECEA team so that they can be corrected in future releases of the data. Users can contact the VECEA team using the contact form.
