BOTANIC DESCRIPTIONDacryodes edulis is a medium-sized, evergreen tree attaining a height of 18-40 m in the forest but not exceeding 12 m in plantations. It is generally branched from low down, with a deep, dense crown. The bole is rather short, slightly fluted, 50-170 cm in diameter and more or less sinuous. The scented, pale grey, rough bark exudes a whitish resin. Buttresses are absent.Leaves compound, imparipinnate, with 5-8 pairs of leaflets; glossy above, pubescent, the pubescence disappearing with age.Flowers subtended, 3 lobed, conspicuous, caducous brow bracts, fragrant, about 5 mm across, trimerous except for the ovary, arranged in dense, ferruginous, stellate-tomentose inflorescence; sepals 3, brown; petals 3, cream-yellow; stamens 6, white; disc 6 lobed, surrounding the 2-celled, glabrous ovary; inflorescence axis 10-42 cm long or longer, deeply grooved.Fruits ellipsoidal drupes rather variable in size, 4-12 x 3-6 cm, resembling olives; exocarp thin, pink, becoming dark blue to violet at maturity; pulp firm and thin.
Tag: plants
Annual litter fall of nitrogen-fixing tree species in rotational woodlots at Tumbi (Tabora), western Tanzania
A rotational woodlot is a method involving growing trees with crops up to 2-3 years until trees start competing with crops. Thereafter the woodlot is left as a source of fuel wood, building poles or fodder while restoring soil fertility until farmers start cutting down the trees and growing crops between the stumps 4 to 5 years later. The method was designed and developed by the South African Development Countries (SADC) and the World Agroforestry Centre(ICRAF) and their partners to alleviate rural farmers from the problems of fuelwood scarcity and poor soil fertility in the tobacco cereal land use system. The method is currently being practised at farmers’ fields in Tabora rural district in western Tanzania involving a large number of farmers. This study reports an assessment of litter production and seasonal pattern of Acacia crassicarpa , A. julifera , A. leptocarpa, Leucaena pallida and Senna siamea grown in rotational woodlots at five years of age.
Do species mixtures increase above- and belowground resource capture in woody and herbaceous tropical legumes?
The rotation of crops with planted, N2-fixing legumes is a promising agroforestry innovation for replenishing soil fertility in the tropics. We postulated that woody and herbaceous legumes with different growth and rooting patterns could be mixed to optimize above- and belowground resource capture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of species interactions on resource utilization by legumes grown in mixtures on a Kandiudalfic Eutrudox in western Kenya. Four woody legume shrubs—pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.], crotalaria (Crotalaria grahamiana Wight and Arn.), and tephrosia (Tephrosia vogelii Hook F.)—grown in monoculture and mixed stands were evaluated for light interception, soil N and water uptake, and biomass production. Siratro [Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.] and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were undersown in woody legume stands. Total aboveground biomass production ranged from 9 to 13 Mg ha1 for monoculture and 8 to 15 Mg ha1 for mixtures of woody legumes. Total N in woody-legume stands ranged from 100 to 178 kg N ha1 Biomass and plant N were not significantly different among woody-legume treatments. However, undersowing siratro as a supplement increased stand productivity and recycled biomass N. Species complementarity in topsoil and subsoil utilization of mineral N was observed in crotalaria + sesbania and pigeonpea + tephrosia mixed stands. Dense soil cover created by siratro led to better conservation of soil water. Results indicated that the tested mixtures provide a better risk management strategy through compensatory growth potential. Greatest opportunities for intensifying resource utilization appear to exist through undersowing a creeping legume with an open-canopy woody legume.
The relationship of Sophora sect. Edwardsia (Fabaceae) to Sophora tomentosa, the type species of the genus Sophora, observed from DNA sequence data and morphological characters
The genus Sophora and tribe Sophoreae to which it belongs have long been considered an unnatural assemblage in the Fabaceae. Tribe Sophoreae has been used as a group of convenience for species that are characterized by relatively simple flowers with free stamens and unspecialized pinnate leaves. In regard to taxonomic problems in Sophora , Salisbury (1808: 296) made the following comments: ‘There is no genus in the vast natural order of Leguminosae, which appears to me so great a disgrace to modern botanists, as Sophora . . . Sophora, as it stands in the last edition of Systema Vegetabilium , contains at least eight genera, very few if any of which will follow each other, in a natural series . . . It is well known that our great master Linne only regarded Sophora as a reservoir, into which he put every leguminous plant with distinct stamina, that he could not refer to any other established genus.
Survival and Growth Performance of Calophyllum inophyllum L. Seedlings in Peat Soil and at Different Levels of Groundwater
Selecting proper tree species for revegetation is important for restoring tropical peatland. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) has been suggested one of the promising native species in Indonesia for the revegetation of tropical peatland; however, there is a lack of understanding of its growth in peat soil with different groundwater levels. We investigated the survival rate, plant height, number of leaves, root collar diameter, and dry biomass of tamanu seedlings grown in peat soil with different groundwater levels using a randomized block design in a water tank. The study involved five groundwater level treatments and 12 tree-level replicates each: M0 (non-groundwater level, control); M1 (−15 cm below the soil surface); M2 (−10 cm); M3 (−5 cm); and M4 (0 cm, soil surface level). The results showed that all tamanu seedlings survived in every treatment. However, their plant height, number of leaves, and root collar diameter growth were significantly inhibited in the highest groundwater level condition (M4, 0 cm) at 81 days after sowing, while their growth in −15 cm of groundwater level (M1) was as good as the growth in the fully drained conditions in M0 (control). This result indicates that the groundwater level should not be higher than −15 cm for the growth of tamanu. Considering that peatlands in Indonesia are assessed to be degraded when the groundwater level is lower than −40 cm, this study suggests that maintaining groundwater levels between −40 cm and −15 cm in peatland is the best condition for rapid growth of early tamanu seedlings while protecting peatlands. Further studies are needed to extend the range of water levels and water treatment duration.
Islamic Sacred Groves: Ecological Niches of Plant Diversity and Climate Change Mitigation in Northern Ethiopia
Islamic sacred groves represent critical ecological niches, fostering diverse habitats for plants and animals. Despite their ecological significance, safeguarding these areas presents formidable challenges stemming from multifaceted factors. Consequently, our study examines plant diversity, biomass and carbon stock estimation in eight Islamic cultural centers in northern Ethiopia. The data were collected from sixty-three plots: 20×20 m for trees, 5×5 m for shrubs, and five 1×1 m subplots within each main plot. We identified 204 plant species belonging to 144 genera and 66 families. The Asteraceae family emerged as dominant, comprising 17 species accounting for 15.3% of the total species identified. Herbs were the predominant growth form, constituting 102 species (50.2%), followed by shrubs (48 species, 23.7%), trees (43 species, 21.2%), and climbers (10 species, 4.9%). Thirteen endemic plant species were identified, while six indigenous tree species predominantly populated the sites. The altitude and slope significantly influenced the plant species distribution patterns. The total biomass of the stud sites ranged from 12.2 to 283 tons per hectare, contributing 6.1 to 141.5 tons of carbon per hectare. The exhibited CO2 sequestration potential ranged from 17.7 to 408.8 tons per hectare. The study sites serve as repositories of plant genetics, essential for conserving biodiversity and providing germplasm for restoration initiatives. Moreover, they play a crucial role in mitigating climate change impacts in northern Ethiopia.
Policy Support for Home Gardens in Vietnam Can Link to Sustainable Development Goals
Despite research evidence on the diverse benefits of home gardens and their potential contributions to multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs), the role of policy towards supporting these contributions remains unclear in developing countries like Vietnam. In this study, we found that 25 out of Vietnam’s 86 key rural development and agricultural policies enacted over the last decade (2010–2021) set specific targets for home gardens. The targets, however, focus strongly on income generation with indicators stipulating e.g., 50–80% of total income from home gardens should be generated by the main product. The policies set no specific target for other potential roles of home gardens beyond the economy of rural households and can exacerbate the widespread transformation of home gardens in Vietnam into farming practices with low crop diversity. The latter potentially limits contributions of home gardens to two (SDG 1, 10) of at least 11 (SDG 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 10–13, 15) of Vietnam’s 17 SDGs. To narrow the gap between research and policy in home garden contributions to Vietnam’s SDGs, we need to better mainstream integrated home garden systems and their diverse benefits, enrich policy targets beyond the income generation, and strengthen coordination among state departments for policy implementation.
Key descriptors for Ziziphus mauritiana (jujube)
This Descriptor list consists of an initial minimum set of characterization and evaluation descriptors for Ziziphus mauritiana (jujube). This strategic set aims at facilitating access to and utilization of this African indigenous fruit tree. It does not exclude the addition of other descriptors at a later date. The strategic set of data standards is designed to facilitate access to and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture information. Together with passport information, descriptors are critical to the effective sharing of characterization and evaluation data and to the efficient use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Key descriptors for Irvingia spp. (bush mango)
This Descriptor list consists of an initial minimum set of characterization and evaluation Irvingia spp. (bush mango). Irvingia species, commonly known as bush mango, as well as in their local names namely, dikka, dikanut, dikabread tree, odika, ogbono, or iba-tree, are multipurpose fruit trees growing in Africa and Asia. They belong to the family Irvingiaceae. This strategic set aims at facilitating access to and utilization of this fruit tree. The strategic set of data standards is designed to facilitate access to and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture information. Together with passport information, descriptors are critical to the effective sharing of characterization and evaluation data and to the efficient use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Key descriptors for Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne
This Descriptor list consists of an initial minimum set of characterization and evaluation of Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne. also known locally as son tra or H’mong apple (Vietnam), dou-yi (China), pin-sein (Myanmar), Assam apple/wild apple (India), belongs to the family Rosaceae. D. indica is an important multi-purpose fruit tree species in agroforestry systems in the highlands. Its fruit is appreciated for its nutrient and vitamin C content as well as antioxidant properties. It also contains substances with high biological activity, which are used as herbal medicine. Fruits are often processed into products such as juice, wine, vinegar, syrup, jam, and preserved by drying.