KUMUBUMBU - The repairing tree..

KUMUBUMBU (Lannea schimperi)

Derivation of the name: Kubumba - to repair. The bark is used as plaster of Paris for fractures.

Natural habitat and distribution in Bungoma:  Habitat: Open woodland and wooded grassland. Distribution: found in all types of woodland and clump bushland, on rocky hillsides and in cultivated land. The tree is becoming scarce.

Description: Bark rough, dark grey. Leaves imparipinnate, usually crowded on short branches, leaflets rusty tomentose beneath, sub sessile. Flowers in panicles, spike-like up to 22cm long, appearing when the tree is leafless. Fruit  fleshy, ovoid, glabrous, red when  ripe.

Physical Features: Shape: medium sized tree up to 15m in height. Crown: semi-spherical rounded. Foliage: medium-dense, leafless during the dry season

Biological features: Mulch:  good quality, decomposition of mulch is rather slow.

Tree/crop association: the tree is often left in cultivated fields, no harm to crops, mostly associated with maize or sunflower. Biomass production: rather slow growing.

Other characteristics: drought resistant. Reproduction: seeds, cuttings of stem and  root.

Management: lopping, pollarding.

Ecological benefit: afforestation of rocky sites.

Tree product and use: fruits, charcoal, firewood, furniture, mortar, handles. The bark is used as a beverage ( substitute for the preparation of tea )

Medicinal Application: Bark; stomach ache, joint problems, endwasi, bad dreams. Bark/root: diabetes, diarrhea, bleeding, back ache.