Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N. Page Afrocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) C.N. Page PODOCARPACEAE Rainer W. Bussmann, Narel Y. Paniagua-Zambrana, Grace N. Njoroge, and John Grimshaw Synonyms Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N. Page: Decussocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) de Laub.; Nageia falcata var. falcatus (Pilg.) Silba; Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R. Br. ex Mirb. Afrocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) C.N. Page: Afrocarpus falcatus subsp. gracilior (Pilg.) Silba; Decussocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) de Laub.; Nageia falcata var. gracilior (Pilg.) Silba; Podocarpus gracilior Pilg. Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle: Afrocarpus falcatus subsp. milanjianus (Rendle) Silba; Podocarpus ulugurensis Pilg. R. W. Bussmann (*) Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia Saving Knowledge, La Paz, Bolivia e-mail: rainer.bussmann@iliauni.edu.ge N. Y. Paniagua-Zambrana Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia Herbario Nacionál de Bolivia, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia G. N. Njoroge Department of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya J. Grimshaw The Yorkshire Arboretum, Castle Howard, York, UK e-mail: director@yorkshirearboretum.org © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 R. W. Bussmann (ed.), Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Africa, Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77086-4_126-2 1 2 R. W. Bussmann et al. Local Names Afrocarpus falcatus: Kikuyu: Muthengera; Elgeyo/Marakwet/Tugen: Benet, Kamba: Muvengea; Kipsigis/Sebei: Saptet; Maa: Olbiribiri; Meru: Mubiribiri, Samburu/Somali: Dibiribiri; Turkana: Lotimat; English: Podo, east African yellowwood (Beentje 1994; Gachati 1989; Kokwaro 2009) Afrocarpus gracilior: Kikuyu: Muthengera; Chagga: Mvavavi (Beentje 1994; Gachati 1989; Kokwaro 2009) Podocarpus milanjianus: Chagga: Mvavavi; Kikuyu: Muthengera; Kipsigis/ Nandi: Saptet, Lumbwa: Sadebet; Maa: Olpiripiri; Marakwet: Sosaita, Serti; Meru: Mubiribiri; Samburu: Biribiriti; Sebei: Sitatet; Somali: Biribiriti; Taita: Msembangala; Tugen: Septa; English: East African yellowwood, Podo (Beentje 1994; Gachati 1989; Kokwaro 2009) Botany and Ecology Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N. Page: Trees 10–25(–60) m tall and up to 210 cm diameter, often with a clear bole of more than 20 m. Bark gray, often purplish, smooth at first, later flaking in rectangular to rounded plates. Twigs round or quadrangular, ridged by decurrent leaf bases. Terminal buds about 1 mm diameter, outer bud scales narrowly triangular, 2–2.5 mm long and 1 mm wide. Juvenile leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, up to 12 cm  6 mm. Adult leaves spirally inserted, linear-lanceolate, (1–)2–4(–4.5) cm  (1.2–)2–4(–6) mm, midrib on lower surface and very slightly raised on upper surface, stomata present on both surfaces, arranged in 14–20  distinct longitudinal lines on either side of midrib. Pollen cones in groups of 1–4, subsessile, catkin-like, 5–13  2–3.5 mm, brownish, microsporophylls broadly triangular-trullate, 0.6–0.8 mm long and 0.8–1.4 mm wide, each bearing two pollen sacs 0.6–0.7 mm long and about 0.3–0.4 mm in diameter. Seed cones solitary on scaly or leafy branches 7–27 mm long and 1.5– 2.5 mm in diameter, only the terminal scale fertile, epimatium verrucose, globose to obovoid, 12–18 mm long, glaucous to grayish green, ripening to a yellow- or light red-brown. Seed entirely enclosed by epimatium, globose, 10–12(–14) mm diameter with a hard-smooth seed coat 1–2 mm thick. It closely resembles A. gracilior, which has slightly bigger leaves (mostly 3–6 cm long), and slightly larger (to 18 mm long), oval cones with smooth skin, while A. falcatus has spherical cones with verrucose skin (like an orange) (Melville 1958). Very hard to germinate, and almost impossible to store seeds (Bussmann and Lange 2000). Very slow growing species (Bussmann 1999). Afrocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) C.N. Page: Trees to 40 m tall and 250 cm diameter, forming a broad, domed crown in mature trees. Bark first smooth, becoming platy and flaky in larger trees. Branchlets are more or less quadrangular within dense foliar units. Leaves spirally arranged, straight or falcate, to 18 cm long in juvenile plants, otherwise 3–6 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, gray-green, apex acute. Seed cones solitary on branchlets, at maturity, a single seed covered by a fleshy epimatium Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle. . . 3 that ripens from green to yellow or orange, oblong, pear-shaped or spherical, 15– 20 mm long, the seed has a hard, smooth coat. In appearance it closely resembles A. falcatus, which has slightly smaller leaves (mostly 2–4 cm long), and slightly smaller (to 15 mm long), spherical cones with verrucose skin (like an orange). It occurs at elevations of about 2100–2700 m (Melville 1958) (Figs. 1, 2, and 3). Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle: Tree up to 35 m tall with thin flaking reddishbrown bark. Leaves 2–15 cm  5–12 mm, shortly petiolate, spreading, strap-shaped, margin long-attenuate in the upper half, stomata on the under surface only, juvenile leaves similar but often longer and slightly broader. Male cones solitary or paired, up to 5 cm long, pinkish. Male cones solitary or paired, up to 5 cm long, pinkish. Female strobili solitary, fertile scales 1 or 2, seed at maturity 1 cm long, sub-globose, drupe-like, green to purple, surmounting a fleshy, red to purple, glaucous receptacle, testa thin and brittle, enclosed in a thin, very resinous integument. Female strobili solitary, fertile scales 1 or 2, seed at maturity 1 cm long, sub-globose, drupe-like, Fig. 1 Afrocarpus gracilior (Podocarpaceae), Oromiya Province, Ethiopia. (Photo J. Grimshaw) 4 R. W. Bussmann et al. Fig. 2 Afrocarpus gracilior (Podocarpaceae), Oromiya Province, Ethiopia. (Photo J. Grimshaw) green to purple, surmounting a fleshy, red to purple, glaucous receptacle, testa thin and brittle, enclosed in a thin, very resinous integument. Podocarpus milanjanus occurs in mountain forest from southern Sudan through eastern Central Africa and East Africa to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and eastern and southern South Africa, where it descends to sea level. It is also found in the highlands of south-eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon and has been recorded from an inselberg in Equatorial Guinea. It is occasionally planted as ornamental tree within its natural area of distribution (Melville 1958). Germinates well both in light and dark conditions, but hard to store (Bussmann and Lange 2000). Dominant component in many Afromontane forests (Bussmann 2002a, b, 2006a, b), and fast growing (Bussmann 1999) (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle. . . 5 Fig. 3 Afrocarpus gracilior (Podocarpaceae), leaves, Oromiya Province, Ethiopia. (Photo J. Grimshaw) Fig. 4 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), open Podocarpus – Bamboo forest, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) 6 Fig. 5 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), leaves, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) Fig. 6 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), female cones, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) R. W. Bussmann et al. Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle. . . Fig. 7 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), leaves, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) Fig. 8 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), female branch, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) Fig. 9 Podocarpus milanjanus (Podocarpaceae), male cone, Mt. Kenya National Park, Kenya. (Photo R.W. Bussmann) 7 8 R. W. Bussmann et al. Local Medicinal Uses Afrocarpus falcatus: Bark infusion used for stomach problems (Kokwaro 2009). Root decoction taken orally or applied to skin for cancer (Teklehaymanot 2009). Afrocarpus gracilior: Bark infusion used for stomach problems (Kokwaro 2009). The leaf juice is used against vomiting (Teklehaymanot et al. 2007). Podocarpus milanjanus: In Kenya a bark infusion is taken to treat stomachache (Beentje 1994). In Uganda a leaf decoction is taken as vermifuge. Local Food Uses Podocarpus milanjanus: People occasionally eat the fleshy receptacles at the base of the seeds (Beentje 1994). Local Handicraft and Other Uses Afrocarpus falcatus: Good timber tree (Beentje 1994). Afrocarpus gracilior: Good timber tree (Beentje 1994). Podocarpus milanjanus: The wood, often traded as “podo,” is highly valued for furniture and ship building, for example, for masts and planks. It is also used for poles, paneling, boxes, veneer, and plywood. It is popular for making butchers’ blocks because it is fairly hard, without scent, and does not chip easily. It is suitable for construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers, toys, novelties, agricultural implements, musical instruments, coffins, food containers, vats, carving, pattern making, matches, turnery, hardboard, and particle board. It is also used as fuelwood, and it is considered a high-quality pulpwood. In the Mau region in Kenya the bark is used as waterproof cover for beehives (Beentje 1994). Used for construction and firewood (Bussmann et al. 2006). The tree is planted as ornamental and roadside tree, having a characteristic appearance with its conical shape and bright green glossy leaves, and also as shade tree in coffee, cocoa and banana plantations. It is the national tree of South Africa. References Beentje H. Kenya trees and shrubs. Nairobi: National Museums of Kenya; 1994. Bussmann RW. Growth rates of important East African montane forest trees, with particular reference to those of Mount Kenya. J East Afr Nat Hist. 1999;881-2:69–78. Bussmann RW. Islands in the desert – forest vegetation of Kenya’s smaller mountains and highland areas Nyiru, Ndoto, Kulal, Marsabit, Loroghi, Ndare, Mukogodo, Porror, Mathews, Gakoe, Imenti, Ngaia, Nyambeni, Loita, Nguruman, Nairobi. J East Afr Nat Hist. 2002a;91(1/2):27–79. Appendices 1–7. www.naturekenya.org/JournalEANH.htm Bussmann RW. Succession and regeneration patterns in East African Mountain forests – a review. Syst Geogr Plants. 2002b;712:959–74. Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle. . . 9 Bussmann RW. Ethnobotany of the Samburu of Mt. Nyiru, South Turkana, Kenya. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2006a;2:35. Bussmann RW. Vegetation zonation and nomenclature of African Mountains – an overview. Lyonia. 2006b;111:41–66. Bussmann RW, Lange SH. Germination of important East African mountain forest trees. J East Afr Nat Hist. 2000;891-2:101–11. Bussmann RW, Gilbreath GG, Lutura M, Lutuluo R, Kunguru K, Wood N, Mathenge S. Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006;2:22. Gachati FN. Kikuyu botanical dictionary. Nairobi: AMREF; 1989. Kokwaro JO. Medicinal plants of East Africa. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press; 2009. Melville R. Flora of Tropical East Africa: Gymnospermeae. London: Crown Agents for Overseas Governments & Administrations; 1958. 16 pp. ISBN 978-1-84246-268-3 Teklehaymanot T. Ethnobotanical study of knowledge and medicinal plants use by the people in Dek Island in Ethiopia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;124:69–78. Teklehaymanot T, Giday M, Medhin G, Mekonnen Y. Knowledge and use of medicinal plants by people around Debre Libanos monastery in Ethiopia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;111:271–83.