Cordia africana
| |
| Scientific name | Cordia africana |
|---|---|
| Common names | Sudan teak; wanza |
| Genus | Cordia |
| Family | Cordiaceae |
| Order | Boraginales |
| Growth habit | Evergreen tree |
| Native range | Tropical and subtropical Africa |
| Typical size | 4–15 m; occasionally taller |
| Fruit | Yellow-to-orange fleshy drupe, about 1.3–1.5 cm long |
| Temperature caution | Frost tender; protect from freezing temperatures |
Cordia africana is an evergreen African tree also known as Sudan teak or wanza. GBIF accepts the name as an exact species match (usage key 5660325).[1] It is a spreading tree of warm woodland, savanna, bush, forest margins and riverbanks, where it can grow from about 550 to 2,600–2,700 m depending on site.[2][3]
Description[edit | edit source]
The tree commonly reaches 4–15 m, with occasional reports to about 30 m in favorable conditions. It has a spreading crown and white bisexual flowers. The fruit is a fleshy yellow-to-orange drupe about 1.3–1.5 cm long, usually containing two to four seeds. Mature fruit has sweet, mucilaginous pulp.[2] The species is multipurpose: its flowers provide nectar, its foliage can be used as forage, and its timber is used locally for woodwork and musical instruments.[4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native range, Cordia africana occurs in warm moist woodland, savanna, bush and along river margins. Cultivated plants favor a light, deep, well-drained soil that remains moist during active growth. A practical soil reaction range is about pH 5–6, with tolerance reported from roughly pH 4.5 to 7.[2][3] The combination of deep rooting space, moisture and drainage is preferable to a shallow site that stays waterlogged.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Give the tree full sun where summers are warm, with good air movement and a reliable water supply during establishment. Its natural settings range from moist woodland and river margins to more open savanna, so light availability can vary, but the cultivation profile favors sunny exposure.[2][3] Young trees need protection from frost; damage to young growth has been reported at about −1°C, and mature plants may die at about −2°C or below.[3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Cordia africana remains evergreen in suitable warm climates but responds to seasonal moisture and temperature. Flowering and fruiting are seasonal in the native range, with local flowering periods differing by region; fruit development can take nearly six months.[2] Keep the root zone evenly supplied with moisture through active growth, reduce exposure to cold and freezing wet conditions in the cool season, and avoid allowing a container or nursery root ball to remain saturated.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Seed is the documented propagation route. For storage, dry seed to about 6–8% moisture and keep it hermetically sealed under cool conditions; one documented regime retained viability for at least a year at 3°C.[2] The horticultural profile reports about 65% germination, with emergence beginning near two weeks. Raise seedlings in a nursery and transplant after roughly four to six months, once they have a sturdy root system and can be moved without excessive disturbance.[3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering may begin when a tree is about 3–5 years old, although climate, establishment and planting material affect the timing.[2][3] The flowers are bisexual and insect-pollinated.[2] Fruits develop over an extended period, approaching six months in the agroforestry profile, and mature to yellow or orange with sweet, mucilaginous edible pulp.[2] Harvest ripe fruit when the color has developed and the pulp has softened; the documented fruit is eaten raw or cooked.[3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The ripe drupe contains a small amount of sweet, mucilaginous pulp around two to four seeds. It is recorded as edible raw or cooked.[2][3] Beyond fruit, the species is valued for shade, forage, nectar and timber; coppicing, lopping and pollarding are documented management practices where the tree is grown for multipurpose use.[2][4]
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Cordia africana00.jpg — Flowers and buds of Cordia africana at Harare Botanical Garden, Zimbabwe; Sue Christian Bell; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons file page.
- Cordia africana01.jpg — Bark and trunk of cultivated Cordia africana at Harare Botanical Garden, Zimbabwe; Sue Christian Bell; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons file page.
- Cordia africana02.jpg — Crown and foliage of cultivated Cordia africana at Harare Botanical Garden, Zimbabwe; Sue Christian Bell; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons file page.
