47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

2026-09-30T00:21:43Z

Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

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{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | ''Uapaca ferruginea''
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Uapaca ferruginea'' [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Family
| [[Phyllanthaceae]] [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Order
| [[Malpighiales]] [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Genus
| [[Uapaca]]
|-
! Growth form
| Wet-tropical forest tree [[#cite_note-3|[3]]]
|-
! Native range
| Northern and eastern Madagascar [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]
|-
! Fruit
| About 15 mm long; gathered wild and sold in local markets [[#cite_note-3|[3]]]
|}

''Uapaca ferruginea'' is a wet-tropical forest tree native to northern and eastern Madagascar. Current GBIF and Plants of the World Online records accept the species in the family [[Phyllanthaceae]]. [[#cite_note-1|[1]]] [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Madagascan ''Uapaca'' taxonomy has been revised in modern treatments, and one competing treatment has linked it with ''Uapaca louvelii''. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] [[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

== Description ==

The species is recorded from rainforest below about 500 m in Madagascar. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] The fruit is described as approximately 15 mm long. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] No additional fruit measurements, flesh description, or seed count are assigned here.

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

A rainforest habitat below about 500 m indicates a warm, moisture-receiving environment. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] As a habitat-based starting point, use a root zone that remains evenly moist while draining excess water; this is an inference from the native rainforest setting, not a measured species requirement. Avoid treating a short dry spell or a waterlogged container as equivalent to the native environment.

=== Sun and humidity ===

The native wet-tropical forest setting supports a sheltered, humid approach during establishment. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Begin with protection from harsh exposure and good air movement, then adjust light only in response to the plant's growth. A fixed full-sun or shade prescription has not been established for this species.

=== Seasonal changes ===

The species comes from warm, wet tropical forest rather than a documented cool-season climate. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Keep moisture more consistent through a local dry season and protect young plants from abrupt drying. No species-specific flowering calendar or dormancy pattern is assigned.

== Propagation ==

Seed propagation is recorded for ''Uapaca ferruginea''. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] Seed is the documented route, not a guaranteed germination protocol. Because the species is dioecious, a fruiting collection needs both male and female plants. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

Separate male and female plants mean that a lone seedling is not a dependable fruiting plan. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] The fruit is reported at about 15 mm long. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] No species-specific harvest month, ripeness cue, yield, or bearing age is assigned; fruit development and harvest timing should be treated as local observations rather than transferred from another ''Uapaca'' species.

== Fruit and uses ==

Fruits are recorded as gathered from the wild and sold in local markets. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]] That record does not establish flavor, texture, preparation, or food safety for ''U. ferruginea''; no safety recommendation is made here.

== References ==

* [[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Uapaca%20ferruginea GBIF species match for Uapaca ferruginea].

* [[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:358123-1 ''Uapaca ferruginea'' | Plants of the World Online].

* [[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Uapaca+ferruginea ''Uapaca ferruginea'' | Useful Tropical Plants Database].

* [[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://doi.org/10.5252/a2011n2a7 McPherson, G. (2011), ''A review of Madagascan Uapaca (Euphorbiaceae s.l.)'', Adansonia 33(2):221–231].

Uapaca ferruginea - Revision history

47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance