Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa

a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map



Lowland bamboo (L)

Description

Oxythenanthera abyssinica is one of the four bamboo species (giant grasses of 2 - 20 m or even taller with erect woody stems that persist for several years, flower gregariously and then die back, sometimes forming pure and virtually impenetrable communities) that are indigenous to Africa (one other species is Sinarundinaria alpina, mapped as Afromontane bamboo (B) in the VECEA map). Oxythenanthera abyssinica is widespread in the Sudanian and Zambezian regions (White 1983 p. 55).

Within the VECEA map, Oxythenanthera abyssinica was only (originally) mapped as a separate vegetation type in Uganda. This vegetation type also occurs in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. In the VECEA documentation, Oxythenanthera abyssinica was included in species assemblages for Combretum wooded grassland (Wc), Miombo woodland (Wm), North Zambezian undifferentiated woodland (Wn), Chipya woodland and wooded grassland (Wy) and Termitaria vegetation (T).


I. Friis and Sebsebe Demissew 2006; Figure 7.1 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 ...)

Products and environmental services of tree species

Documented products and environmental services for the tree species occurring in this vegetation type (L) 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

Human consumption

Animal consumption

Environmental services

Other products

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 (%)
L 1,411 1.20 32.50

A) Include the IUCN categories I - IV; B) Include the IUCN categories V - VI and the protected areas without IUCN classification. Read more

Links

Species selection tool
Other vegetation types
//vegetationmap4africa.org
Documentation

Citation and terms of use

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