African Greenheart
Pepper-bark Tree
Warburgia ugandensis
Observed among savanna vegetation near Lake Elementaita, Kenya. Dec. 2015.
TREE: A large shrub or small tree with dark green foliage. Mature trees in ideal conditions can reach 30m. The timber has been
over-exploited leaving few large trees to see.
FLOWERS: The flowers cream to light green in color. Ten petals in two rows are subtended by five green sepals. Both are rather thick
of ovate in shape.
LEAVES: Leaves are simple, alternate and clustered near the branch ends. The upper surface is glossy green and the margins are smooth.
RANGE: Widely distributed in upland areas of Kenya.
FRUIT: The globular fruit, about 3cm long. Leathery skins turn purplish and enclose several oily seeds.
UNARMED. Without thorns.
