Fabaceae-Caesalpinaceae

Dialium orientale

Mpepeta

Canopy/Emergment Tree

IUCN: Near ThreatenedCommon species

Size

Quantity

124 medium available right now.

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About

Dialium orientale is a spreading, often multi-stemmed shrub or tree that can reach 6-15 metres tall, with pale grey-white-pink bark. Its compound leaves feature 7-9 small, oval leaflets. Small green-cream-yellow flowers appear in large, dense heads, followed by red-brown, round pods containing edible, sour pulp around 1-2 grey-brown seeds.

Where it works in Kilifi

This species is indigenous to the coastal areas of Kenya, thriving in dry coastal forests and riverine vegetation on sandy or alluvial soils. It can serve as a valuable shade or specimen tree, and is excellent for restoration projects in full sun.

Growing notes

Dialium orientale is a slow-growing tree. Once established, it is well-suited to dry conditions, found naturally in evergreen dry forests. The species forms a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, benefiting surrounding plants.

Sources

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