2 minute read
Trees bees use - Julbernardia globiflora
by Reinhard Fichtl
Names
The Munondo tree
Family
Caesalpiniodeae
Description
A well-branched, semi-deciduous tree growing up to 18 m high, with rounded or sometimes flat crown, drooping foliage, and an often crooked, cylindrical bole
Bark: pale grey and smooth when young, dark brown and rough later.
Leaves: with four to seven pairs of opposite leaflets; oblong, dark green and leathery.
Flowers: white to pale yellow, fragrant, arranged in large branched heads or panicles the tree in flower an appearance of brown speckled with white
Fruits: dark brown, flat, velvety pods, square- ended, borne above the leaves and splitting explosively to release two to six smooth brown seeds.
Flowering: from January to May with casual flowering in November.
Habitat
Found between 1000 and 1400 m in dry, evergreen forest and in most woodland types on plateau and escarpment soils and is locally frequent in woodland on Kalahari sands, often dominant in miombo forests. Its rainfall range is from 700 to 1000 mm per year.
Distribution
Occurring in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the most common and most widespread tree in Zimbabwe.
USES
The hard and heavy wood is used for mining, hut building and heavy constructional work as well as tool handles and firewood. The wood has also been used for making mortars and canoes.
The bark is used for ropes, stitched canoes, corn bins and sacks. The bark contains dark tannin which has also been used as dye. Bee hives are often made from the bark.
In traditional medicine the bark is used as a laxative and to treat constipation.
Practical notes
Propagation is done by natural regeneration and seedlings. Pre-treatment of seeds is recommended by soaking them in cold water for about 24 hours.
Apicultural value
Julbernardia globiflora is the best and most important bee tree in Zimbabwe, parts of Zambia, and other African countries. Honeybees visit the flowers for pollen and the abundant nectar supply. Granulation of the honey is very fast with coarse crystals and a mild flavour.
Recommended for planting to increase honey production
