Sycamore Fig - Kumukhuyu (ficus sycomorus)

Derivation of the name: Sikhuya - skin disease, psoiasis. This refers to the scales that develop on old tress.

Natural Habitat and distribution  in Bungoma: Habitat: (open) woodland, riverine forest, in sites with high water table, up to 2000m. Distribution: most common fig tree, widely spread in cultivated land, in woodlands and forest relics.

Look at the number of figs on this one 😳

Description: Bark yellow or greenish-yellow, smooth. Leaves large, broadly oblong to almost circular, base (sub)cordate, apex rounded, margins entire or roughly toothed, sandpapery above, stalk short. Fruit a fig, large, up to 3 cm, yellow to reddish when ripe,

in leaf axil or in clusters on main branches.

Physical features: Shape: large spreading tree up to 20-30 m high, few big branches but dense branchlets. Crown: dense, hemispherical-rounded. Foliage: deciduous, falling off towards the end of the dry season, semi-permeable.

Biological Features: Mulch: intensive litter fall towards the  end of the dry season, fast decomposition of leaves, fruits fall in plenty and form good humus.

Rooting system: very strong and deep roots but also spreading roots up to 15m apart from the trunk.

Tree/Crop Association: preferably used to establish banana groves, most crops are accepted in combination with the tree as long as pruning is practised.

Biomass Production: fairly fast-growing and long-living tree, prolific seeder (figs) and yearly high leafy boimass production. Other characteristics: soft wood, relatively drought resistant, tolerant to trampling and strong winds, susceptible to browsing.

Reproduction: seedlings, coppicing from roots. Birds consume the figs and deposit the seeds by droppings.

Management: lopping, pollarding, coppicing, root pruning.

Ecological benefit: the tree characterises the landscape, soil fixation, soil improvement, windbreak.

Tree Products and use: posts for fencing, light timber, fuelwood, bee-hives, ox-yoke, shade for bananas, mulch, fodder, fruit, traditional stool, canoes, mortar, music instrument, carvings. The fibre of the inner part of the root is used for weaving and for making ropes.

Medicinal Application: Bark: stomach-ache. Bark/Root: diarrhoea, dysentery and edwasi.

Cultural features:

Sayings:

Kumukhuyu kwakhaya engipwe : Kumukhuyu defeats the bushbaby. The bushbaby likes fruits of kumukhuyu. It once overfed and constipated. The saying is used advice people not to overfeed. Too much of something is harmful.

Kumukhuyu kwasinya enjusi: the fox is tired of (eating) or fed up with Kumukhuyu. Variety is the spice of life. Work all day long makes jack a dull boy.