Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Miombo woodland
Description
Miombo woodland is floristically and physiognomically very different from other types of woodland. It is nearly always dominated by species of Brachystegia, either alone or with Isoberlinia angolensis, Julbernardia globiflora or Julbernardia paniculata. Most miombo woodlands are semi-deciduous, but some are completely deciduous and some are almost evergreen (White 1983 pp. 92 - 93). There is a marked flush of new leaves (of flaming reds, salmons, pinks and coppery tinges of all hues) just before the rains, a time during which miombo woodlands become especially beautiful (Burtt et al. 1942; Lind and Morrison 1974 p. 83).
Miombo woodland is the prevalent vegetation throughout the greater part of the Zambezian region, especially on the main plateau and its flanking escarpments. Whereas some authors (including White 1983) expected that, on moister and deeper soils in higher rainfall areas, miombo had replaced Zambezian dry evergreen forest (Fm), the interpretation that all these areas previously supported Zambezian dry evergreen forest (Fm) is not generally accepted (P. Smith and J. Timberlake, pers. comm.).
In the VECEA map, we mapped three subtypes of Miombo woodland separately: Drier Miombo woodland (Wmd); Wetter Miombo woodland (Wmw); and Miombo woodland on hills and rocky outcrops (Wmr).
Zanzibar-Inhambane transition woodland is dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis. These vegetation communities where Zanzibar-Inhambane forest species occur together with heliophilous (‘sun-loving’) Zambezian woodland species are intermediate between forest and woodland. Some of these communities are stable, whereas others are clearly seral as forest encroachment can be observed. Brachystegia spiciformis forms almost pure stands on white sterile sands where complete succession to forest is unlikely, as in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest (Fp; White 1983 p. 188). In the VECEA map, we mapped Zanzibar-Inhambane transition woodland together with various Zanzibar-Inhambane forest types in the coastal mosaic (CM).

- Bingham; Figure 8.1 in VECEA Volume 3
Useful woody species
The main species recorded to occur within this vegetation type are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard.
- Dominant species: Brachystegia allenii, Brachystegia boehmii, Brachystegia bussei, Brachystegia floribunda, Brachystegia microphylla, Brachystegia longifolia, Brachystegia manga, Brachystegia microphylla, Brachystegia puberula, Brachystegia spiciformis, Brachystegia stipulata, Brachystegia taxifolia, Brachystegia utilis, Brachystegia wangermeeana, Isoberlinia angolensis, Julbernardia globiflora, Julbernardia paniculata
- Characteristic species: Afzelia quanzensis, Anisophyllea boehmii, Burkea africana, Dombeya rotundifolia, Erythrophleum africanum, Faurea saligna, Marquesia macroura, Parinari curatellifolia, Pericopsis angolensis, Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia, Pterocarpus angolensis, Terminalia sericea
- Other species present: Acacia nigrescens, Albizia antunesiana, Albizia versicolor, Bauhinia petersiana, Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Combretum adenogonium, Combretum collinum, Combretum molle, Combretum zeyheri, Cussonia arborea, Dalbergia nitidula, Dichrostachys cinerea, Diospyros kirkii, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon, Flacourtia indica, Hexalobus monopetalus, Kirkia acuminata, Landolphia kirkii, Markhamia obtusifolia, Ozoroa insignis, Piliostigma thonningii, Securidaca longipedunculata, Strychnos cocculoides, Strychnos innocua, Syzygium guineense, Uapaca kirkiana, Uapaca nitida, Vitex mombassae
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Acacia polyacantha, Acacia sieberiana, Albizia amara, Cassia abbreviata, Cryptosepalum exfoliatum, Faurea rochetiana, Hymenaea verrucosa, Kigelia africana, Lannea discolor, Lannea schweinfurthii, Lonchocarpus capassa, Manilkara sansibarensis, Monotes africanus, Ormocarpum kirkii, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, Sclerocarya birrea, Smilax anceps, Azanza garckeana, Vangueriopsis lanciflora, Xeroderris stuhlmannii, Ziziphus abyssinica, Ziziphus mucronata
For more detailed information about the species occurrences see this excel workbook. It provides country specific information on species composition for this vegetation type. It also allows you to select a subset of useful tree species to provide desired products and services. For each species links to a number of websites / databases with information about this species are provided as well.
Conservation status
See the tables of Drier Miombo woodland (Wmd), Wetter Miombo woodland (Wmw), and Miombo woodland on hills and rocky outcrops (Wmr)
Links
- More about the species selection tool
- Go back to the index other vegetation types
- Go back to http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- The map is described in detail in the documentation.
Citation and terms of use
- Kindt R, van Breugel P, Orwa C, Lillesø JPB, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Useful tree species for Eastern Africa: a species selection tool based on the VECEA map. Version 2.0. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Forest & Landscape Denmark. http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø JPB, Bingham M, Demissew S, Dudley C, Friis I, Gachathi F, Kalema J, Mbago F, Moshi HN, Mulumba, J, Namaganda M, Ndangalasi HJ, Ruffo CK, Védaste M, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Potential Natural Vegetation Map of Eastern Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). Version 2.0. Forest and Landscape (Denmark) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). URL: http://vegetationmap4africa.org
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