Cordia suckertii Chiov.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Type

C2, between “Bulo Burti” and “El Mocoile”, Suckert 61 (FT holo., K iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall; young branchlets densely scabrid pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate; blade ovate, elliptic or oblong, 2–5.7 x 0.7–3 cm, rounded, cuneate or truncate at the base, rounded or emarginate at the apex, entire or slightly undulate, scabrid with medifixed spreading hairs on both surfaces; petiole 2–6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, homostylous, solitary or few together

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tubular, leathery, 14–23 mm long, densely scabrid pubescent outside, c. 2–3-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla deep red or orange red; tube rigid, 17–35 mm long; lobes 7–10

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 7–10

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style with united part 21–38 mm long, with stigmatic lobes less than 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a nut, 16–25 x 15–18 mm, narrowly ovoid to globose, completely enclosed by the leathery calyx; fruit wall very hard.

Distribution

C1, 2; E Ethiopia

Ecology

Altitude range 200–300 m.

Vernacular

Cuddo, oddo, uddo (Somali).

Note

A more extensive use of the species as a food plant would be made difficult by the extreme hardness of the nuts (they are traditionally crushed between big stones) and also by the relatively small amount of seed they contain.