Craibia Brownii

Scientific Name: Craibia Brownii

Common Name: S: Mukubu

Family: Fabaceae (Papilionaceae)

Names in other languages: Kamba: Muthi, Mutisi; Kikuyu:;Luhya: Muhandi; Nandi: Neunet; Tharaka: Mugunkuma;Tugen: Cheptewo

General Information

Found in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and in Kenya where it is common in the western highlands. Occurs in forest and forest margins at altitudes between 1,150 and 2,100 m. Also in riverine forests, dry Croton-Brachylaena forest or moist forest. Agroclimatic Zones II-III.

Features of Craibia Brownii that make it identifiable:

The Bark is Grey, smooth but flaking in old trees.

The Leaves are Compound with 3-8 alternate, elliptic leaflets, 5-10-cm long, very smooth and shiny above.

The flowers are White tinged with pale pink, in terminal clusters.

The fruit Dark brown thick flat pods, about 6 cm long, splitting on the tree to release brownish to black seeds.

Uses

Timber, arrows, trays, baskets (made from flexible branches), edible seed, medicine (roots).

PROPAGATION: Seedlings.

MANAGEMENT: Extremely slow growing. REMARKS: Seed edible after a long period of cooking. Wood close grained, white, hard. Ash from this species mixed with ash from other species is used to attract bees to an unoccupied hive (Tharaka).