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Ocotea cymosa - (Nees) Palacky

Common Name Varongy
Family Lauraceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Forests and coastal sands at elevations up to 1,000 metres[455 ].
Range Africa - eastern Madagascar.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Ocotea cymosa Varongy


Public Domain
Ocotea cymosa Varongy
Public Domain

 

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Summary

Ocotea cymosa is an evergreen tree growing about 20 m in height and can be found in Africa. It has a straight, buttressed bole that can be branchless for up to 16 m and usually up to 80 cm in diameter. The leaves and fruits are used as condiment, and the bark is used in preparing alcoholic beverages. The plant yields high quality timber used for furniture, cabinet making, boat constructions, ship building, toys, boxes, etc.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Ocotea cymosa is a TREE growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agathophyllum cymosum Blume ex Meisn. Agathophyllum lindleyanum Blume Daphne cupularis Lindl. ex Bai

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Inner bark  Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Drink

The leaves, bark and fruits are aromatic; the leaves and fruits are used as condiment, the bark is added to locally prepared alcoholic drinks[299 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Furniture  Wood

Other Uses The heartwood is pale brown; it is usually indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually interlocked, texture medium. The wood is moderately lightweight, it is often attacked by pinhole borers, but is moderately resistant to fungi, dry-wood borers, termites and marine borers. It is easy to saw and work with both hand and machine tools; sanding is sometimes needed for good results in planing operations; it is fairly easy to glue, paint and varnish; it nails well, with good nail-holding capacity. The peeling and slicing properties are good. The moulding properties are satisfactory and the wood is suitable for carving. It is resistant to impregnation by preservatives[299 ]. Freshly sawn wood has an unpleasant smell[299 ]. The wood of this species, and several other Ocotea species from Madagascar, is known as 'Varongy. It is in high demand for furniture, cabinet making, boat construction and mortars, but is also valued for construction, joinery, vehicle bodies, interior trim and pattern making. It is suitable for mine props, ship building, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, carvings, turnery, veneer and plywood. It is less suitable for flooring because it is too soft[299 ].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Although generally thought of as needing moderate amounts of sun, trials have shown that it is extremely shade tolerant[299 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Varongy

Native Range

AFRICA: Madagascar

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ocotea kenyensisTransvaal stinkwood, stinkhoutTree20.0 10-12 FLMHNM024
Ocotea porosaBrazilian-walnut, imbuiaTree18.0 10-12 SLMHNM004

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Nees) Palacky

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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Subject : Ocotea cymosa  
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