Family name
Boraginaceae

Local name(s)
Otayita (Konsogna), Wanza (Amhargna), Waddessa (Oromiffa)

General description
C. africana is a fast growing, branched and deciduous tree growing in to big tree of up to 25m of height. It has got large, oval, and base rounded leaves. Young shoots, leaf stalks, underside of leaves are covered with soft brown hairs. Flowers are sweet scented and very attractive to bees. Fruits are yellowish and embedded in hairy cups.

Edible part(s), preparation methods and palatability
The flesh of the fruits is sticky and edible both in normal times (by children) and in famine period (by adults and children). Each fruit contains up to 6 seeds.

Agroecology
A tree common in Polyscias and Podocarpus forest, as a forest remnant in cultivated areas. C. africana is used in coffee plantations for shading, mulch and soil fertility maintenance. The species grows well in dry, moist and wet midlands (1,600 - 2,200m).

Propagation method(s)
Wildlings, seedlings, direct seeding.

Sample location(s)
(1) Jarso Kebele, Konso; (2) Mekane Birhan, Jana Mora Woreda, North Gonder

Remarks 
Further used for medicinal purposes (bark, roots), bee forage, firewood, timber (furniture, beehives, boxes, mortars), livestock fodder.
 

¹ Parts of the following description have been taken from Bekele-Tesemma et al., 1993: p. 172/173