African Plant Research & Conservation Centre

05/10/2026

200 Years From Now, Will My Tree Still Be Standing?

Standing beneath a massive Olea welwitschii, also known as Elgon teak, in Kakamega Forest makes you think beyond your own lifetime.

Imagine planting a tree today and knowing you may never see it reach its full potential.

Then imagine 200 years from now.

You are long gone. Your children are long gone. Generations have come and gone.

But that tree is still standing.

A massive trunk. A wide crown. Birds nesting in its branches. Shade falling on the forest floor. People walking beneath it without ever knowing who planted it.

And perhaps someone in your family remembers.

"Our ancestor planted this tree."

That is a different kind of legacy.

We often think about what we will leave our families as money, houses, land or businesses. But there is another possibility: a living legacy.

A tree that outlives you.

A tree that grows for generations after you are gone.

A tree that becomes part of the landscape your grandchildren and their grandchildren inherit.

This is what I think about when I see a giant Olea welwitschii in Kakamega Forest.

What if we planted trees today with people 200 years from now in mind?

Maybe conservation is not only about saving what remains.

Maybe it is also about leaving something beautiful behind for people we will never meet.

Plant a tree whose full beauty you may never live to see.

That might be one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family.

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Mvule: The Great Indigenous Tree of Western Kenya, Meru and the Coast

If you grew up around western Kenya, Meru or the South Coast, there is a good chance you have heard of the Mvule tree.

Its scientific name is Milicia excelsa, commonly known as Iroko.

Among the Luhya, it is known as Murundu, while in Meru it is called Mururi. In Swahili, it is widely known as Mvule.

This is one of Africa's great indigenous timber trees, valued for its large size, strong wood and durability.

Mvule can grow into a massive forest tree, forming part of the structure of natural forests. Its timber has traditionally been used for construction, furniture, doors, flooring and other durable wood products.

But there is another reason the tree is interesting.

The name Iroko became well known beyond Africa through literature and popular culture. Chinua Achebe even refers to the iroko tree in Things Fall Apart, reflecting how deeply certain trees were embedded in African landscapes and cultural imagination.

Today, trees like Mvule face pressure from logging, habitat loss and the conversion of natural forests and woodland.

When we talk about conserving indigenous trees, we should not only think about small or rare species. We also need to protect the large trees that once defined our forests and landscapes.

Mvule. Murundu. Mururi. Iroko.

Different names, one remarkable African tree.

What did your community call Milicia excelsa?

05/10/2026

Great. Everyone wants some shade.

So cool seeing one of our first Acacia seyal seedball trees planted in 2019 providing some nice shade to this group of folks on a Sunday afternoon along Limuru road.

04/10/2026

The Indigenous Fruit That Tastes Like Black Pepper and Citrus

Have you ever heard of wild cardamom, also known as grains of paradise?

This indigenous plant grows naturally along rivers and on forest floors, where its lush growth can often be found in moist, shaded environments.

Among the Luo, it is known as Osae.
In Ekegusii, it is called Ebitokono.
Among the Meru, it is known as Meenywa.

But this is not just another forest plant. It is also an indigenous fruit and spice plant.

The fruits contain seeds that can be used as a spice, either whole or ground. The seeds have a distinctive pungent, black-pepper-like flavour with hints of citrus, making them an interesting traditional ingredient.

This is one of the fascinating things about indigenous plants. A plant growing quietly on a forest floor can have uses that connect food, culture, traditional knowledge and biodiversity.

Yet many of these plants remain largely unknown outside the communities that have traditionally used them.

How many indigenous spices do we have in Kenya that we rarely see in modern kitchens?

Perhaps our forests are holding more flavours than we realise.

04/10/2026

The African Fruit Rich in Vitamin C That You May Have Never Heard Of

Have you ever heard of Saba comorensis, also recorded as Saba florida?

This indigenous African fruit plant produces a fruit that is rich in vitamin C, yet it remains relatively unknown compared with many introduced fruit species.

Across Kenya, Saba comorensis is known by many local names.

In Digo, it is Muongo.
In Kamba, it is Kilia, Kiongwa, Kiongoa, Kiyongoa and Mungoa for the fruit.
Among the Bukusu, it is Kumuchabungwe, while the fruit is Kamachabungwe.
The Luo call it Abuno, Abuna or Jobune.

The Malakote call it Loguo, the Marakwet call it Ochon, and the Mbeere call it Mungo.

Among the Pokomo, it is Muongo or Mungo, while the Muu call it Mwabiga.

It is also known as Mbungo, Mpira or Bungo in Swahili. Other names include Dhangalow, Dongola and Dakaja among Somali communities, Madera and Mameru among the Taita, and Ivungu among the Taveta.

Its distribution is impressive too.

Saba comorensis occurs across much of Africa, from West Africa through Central Africa to Ethiopia and southern Somalia, and southwards to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

In Kenya, it occurs in many areas, including Kitui, Makueni, Migori, Siaya, Bungoma, Cherangani, Muhoroni, Kwale, Wundanyi, Witu, Murang'a and along the Tana River.

It is usually found along rivers, in riverine vegetation, on rocky hillsides, in thickets and in lowland evergreen forests. It can grow on both alluvial sandy-clay soils and rocky ground, from about 0 to 1,800 metres above sea level.

Despite this wide distribution, the species is described as generally rare, although it can be locally common in some areas. Its populations have declined as natural habitats are increasingly encroached upon.

This raises an important question:

How many nutritious indigenous fruits do we have across Africa that remain overlooked simply because we have not invested enough in knowing, growing and promoting them?

Saba comorensis is more than an indigenous fruit. It is part of our food heritage, local languages, biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

Maybe it is time we started giving our indigenous fruits the attention they deserve.

Have you eaten this fruit before, and what do you call it in your community?

04/10/2026

Why Do We Know Morus alba More Than the East African Mulberry?

When we talk about mulberries in Africa, Morus alba, the White Mulberry, is probably the name most people recognise.

But there is another mulberry that naturally occurs across much of Africa: Morus mesozygia, the East African Mulberry, known as Munuku among the Luhya.

And this raises an interesting question:

Why is the exotic Morus alba more famous and commonly planted than our own African mulberry?

The two produce similar-looking fruits, yet Morus mesozygia remains relatively unknown outside the communities and areas where it naturally occurs.

In Kenya, the East African Mulberry is found particularly in western Kenya, Nyanza and parts of the South Coast. Across Africa, its range extends through countries including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

It occurs from about sea level to 1,650 metres above sea level.

So how did we end up knowing and planting the exotic mulberry more than this African species?

Perhaps it is because Morus alba became strongly associated with silkworm farming, horticulture and deliberate cultivation. Its name travelled through agricultural systems, nurseries and research institutions.

Meanwhile, many indigenous African trees remained part of local landscapes and local languages without receiving the same level of attention.

This is why knowing our indigenous species matters.

Munuku is not simply another mulberry. It is part of Africa's own botanical heritage.

If two trees can provide similar fruits, perhaps we should also be asking:

What indigenous alternatives are we overlooking because an introduced species became more famous?

Maybe the first step towards conserving our indigenous plants is simply learning their names.

02/10/2026

The Small Plant Kisii Communities Used to “Stop” the Rain

Have you ever heard of a small plant that was traditionally used to pause unwanted rain?

This is Sida rhombifolia, known as Ekerundu among the Kisii.

According to traditional knowledge among some Kisii communities, Ekerundu was associated with a practice used when rain came at an inconvenient time, especially during an important gathering or event.

One interesting part of the tradition involved the last-born child.

When rain was unwanted, the last-born would take the plant, split it and tie it, following the traditional practice. It was believed that this could cause the rain to pause for a while, allowing the event or activity to continue.

Whether or not the practice actually influenced the weather is a different scientific question. What is important here is the cultural knowledge surrounding the plant and the role it played in how people understood and responded to their environment.

Traditional plant knowledge was not always about medicine or food. Plants could also be connected to weather, ceremonies, beliefs, rituals and community practices.

Ekerundu is a reminder that some of the knowledge held in African communities may be hidden in stories and practices that are rarely documented today.

Have you heard of Ekerundu or a similar plant tradition in your community?

30/09/2026

11 Best Indigenous Shade Trees for Small Compounds

Looking for a tree that can give your compound shade, beautiful flowers, or edible fruits without taking up too much space?

Here are 11 indigenous trees and shrubs worth considering:

1. Acokanthera oppositifolia – KSh 500
2. Bridelia micrantha (Mukoigo) – KSh 300
3. Bersama abyssinica (Omobamba) – KSh 300
4. Erythrococca bongensis (Muharangware) – KSh 300
5. Vangueria madagascariensis (Wild Medlar) – KSh 500
6. Ludia mauritiana – KSh 300
7. Ehretia cymosa (Murembu) – KSh 300
8. Afrocanthium keniense – KSh 500
9. Rothmannia urceiformis (Mukombokombo) – KSh 500
10. Dombeya torrida (Mukeu) – KSh 500
11. Cordia monoica (Sandpaper Tree) – KSh 500

What makes these trees interesting for smaller compounds is their combination of shade, flowers, fruits, attractive foliage, and wildlife value.

Instead of planting trees simply because they are commonly available, consider choosing indigenous species that can give your compound beauty while also supporting birds, bees and other wildlife.

The right tree can turn even a small compound into a much more productive and biodiverse space.

Which one would you plant in your compound?