This chapter summarizes the biology and ecology of three key priority miombo fruit trees (Uapaca kirkiana, Strychnos cocculoides and Sclerocarya birrea) identified for southern Africa and their potential for domestication. Sclerocarya birrea is a member of the Anacardiaceae (cashew family), along with 650 species and 70 genera of mainly tropical or subtropical evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs and woody vines. Uapaca kirkiana (Euphorbiaceae) is distinctive within the Euphorbiaceae on account of its wood, vegetative and floral characters. It has characteristically broad, leathery leaves and rounded crown. Strychnos cocculoides belongs to the family Loganiaceae, a semideciduous small tree, 2-9 m high, with spreading branches and a compact, rounded crown, which grows on both deep and loamy sands.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845931100.0322Altmetric score:
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Publication year
2008
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
biology, ecology, indigenous species, tropical africa
Geographic
Malawi
