Strombosia scheffleri


Strombosia scheffleri is a medium-sized tree that is native to Tropical Africa, the species is sometimes planted as a shade tree in coffee and cocoa plantations. It belongs to the family Olacaceae.

Description

Strombosia scheffleri grows up to 25 to 35 meters tall with a straight trunk that is sometimes buttressed at the base. The bark is light brown to greyish or yellowish green in color and flaky, while the slash is creamy revealing a reddish inner bark; its stems tend to hang downwards. Leaves are opposite and have petioles; leaflets are broaldly elliptic in outline, up to 20 cm long and 9 cm wide. Inflorescence are arranged in axillary fascicles with flowers that are greenish yellow in color. Fruit is a subglobose berry, up to 1.9 to 2.5 cm in diameter. The plant's fruiting season is between May and September.

Distribution and habitat

Occurs in Tropical Africa in the Guinea-Congolian biographical region eastwards to southern Sudan and southwards to Mozambique. Found in Afromontane rain forests and gallery forest.

Ecology

The fruits and seeds are eaten by red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, mangabays, and redtail monkeys while seeds are generally dispersed over long distances by bats.

Uses

It is planted as a shade tree in banana, coffee and cocoa plantations.