Fabaceae-Caesalpinaceae

Cynometra suaheliensis

Suahili Cynometra · Mfunda

Canopy/Emergment Tree

IUCN: Near ThreatenedCommon species

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About

This evergreen shrub or tree typically grows 5–15 metres tall, featuring bark that ranges from smooth red-grey to rough. Its compound leaves consist of four asymmetrically obovate-elliptic, glabrous leaflets. The species produces white flowers arranged in terminal racemes or panicles, followed by smooth, beaked pods measuring 4–6 cm long. It is native to the coastal lowlands of southern Kenya and Tanzania, inhabiting dry evergreen forests, riverine areas, and coastal bushland.

Where it works in Kilifi

Cynometra suaheliensis is well-suited for coastal Kilifi gardens and landscapes, thriving in dry evergreen forests, riverine areas, and coastal bushland at elevations up to 150 metres. It can serve as an excellent shade or specimen tree.

Growing notes

Propagation of this tree is primarily achieved by seed. It thrives in semi-arid to moderately moist conditions and is often found in seasonally dry tropical biomes, particularly on white sands.

Sources

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