Common Name : African Fern Pine

It is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree native to montane rainforests of eastern Africa. This fast, vigorous grower can add between 1-3in of new growth per year in the right conditions. Fully mature trees can reach up to 130' tall with a 110' spread. Young trees are generally upright and take on a broader canopy shape with age. The foliage is narrowly lanceolate in shape, reaching up to 3" long and 0.2" wide and gives the plant a fine texture. The cones appear in spring but are insignificant. The round seeds (up to 1" in diameter) are surrounded by an fleshy coating that ripens from green to orange. This plant has various uses in traditional medicine. It is also used as a timber tree and is cultivated as an ornamental.