Araliaceae

Cussonia zimmermannii

Mbomba maji, Mpapayi mwitu

Canopy/Emergment Tree

Common species

Size

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About

Cussonia zimmermannii is a medium to large evergreen tree, typically growing up to 25 metres tall but sometimes reaching 45 metres, with a straight bole and a dense, rounded crown. Its bark is grey to greenish-grey, fissured and scaly. The large, digitately compound leaves have 5-9 sessile or subsessile leaflets, up to 25 cm long, which are elliptical to obovate with toothed or nearly entire margins. The tree produces small, greenish flowers in spike-like racemes, followed by small, subglobose fruits up to 6 mm long.

Where it works in Kilifi

This species is well-suited for coastal gardens and landscapes in Kilifi, thriving in full sun to partial shade. As a canopy or emergent tree, it serves as an excellent specimen for shade and can be incorporated into restoration projects for coastal evergreen forests and bushlands, including degraded and secondary forest habitats.

Growing notes

It is a robust species known to persist in degraded habitats and secondary forests, suggesting good adaptability once established. While specific growth rate information for this species is limited, other Cussonia species can be grown from fresh seed or cuttings. Established trees are found in both rainforests and drier evergreen forests, indicating moderate water needs once mature.

Sources

Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, prota4u.org, jstor.org, nih.gov, worldagroforestry.org, wikipedia.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.