Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania
Jon C. Lovett, Chris K. Ruffo, Roy E. Gereau & James R.D. Taplin
Illustrations by Line Sørensen & Jilly Lovett
Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman
Syn. FTEA: NC.
Syn. TTCL: Musa ensete Gmel., Musa holstii K. Schum., Musa proboscoidea Oliv., Musa ulugurensis Warb.
Syn. other: NR.
Local names: Mgomba-mwitu (Sw).
Bole: Fleshy. To 10 m.
Bark: NR.
Slash: NR.
Leaf: Simple. Whorled.
Petiole: NR.
Lamina: Large. 5 × 1.5 m. Oblong-lanceolate. Cuneate. Obtuse/acute. Entire. Glabrous.
Domatia: Absent.
Glands: NR.
Stipules: NR.
Thorns & Spines: Absent.
Flower: White with orange-yellow tips. Infloresence terminal, pendulous. Monoecious.
Fruit: Elongated fleshy berry 8 – 15 × 3 – 4.5 cm. Seeds smooth, hard, black.
Ecology: Montane forest.
Distr: EA, N, LN, LV. Tropical and Southern Africa.
Notes: NR.
Uses: The tree is used for ornament and shade. The stem pulp is edible after cooking. The seeds are used for making necklaces and for playing. The stem is also used as fodder for cattle. The stem and leaves are used for liver and miscarriage problems.
Syn. FTEA: NC.
Syn. TTCL: Musa ensete Gmel., Musa holstii K. Schum., Musa proboscoidea Oliv., Musa ulugurensis Warb.
Syn. other: NR.
Local names: Mgomba-mwitu (Sw).
Bole: Fleshy. To 10 m.
Bark: NR.
Slash: NR.
Leaf: Simple. Whorled.
Petiole: NR.
Lamina: Large. 5 × 1.5 m. Oblong-lanceolate. Cuneate. Obtuse/acute. Entire. Glabrous.
Domatia: Absent.
Glands: NR.
Stipules: NR.
Thorns & Spines: Absent.
Flower: White with orange-yellow tips. Infloresence terminal, pendulous. Monoecious.
Fruit: Elongated fleshy berry 8 – 15 × 3 – 4.5 cm. Seeds smooth, hard, black.
Ecology: Montane forest.
Distr: EA, N, LN, LV. Tropical and Southern Africa.
Notes: NR.
Uses: The tree is used for ornament and shade. The stem pulp is edible after cooking. The seeds are used for making necklaces and for playing. The stem is also used as fodder for cattle. The stem and leaves are used for liver and miscarriage problems.
Last Updated: 15 June 2017