Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
drolpeer
Family Name:
Malvaceae
Botanical Name:
Dombeya rotundifolia
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The wild pear is a deciduous, fast-growing tree that reaches a 3-7 meters tall. The bark is very corky and dark brown (1). The leaves are round and have star-like hairs on the upper leaf surface, typical of plants in the Dombeya family. The leaves are simple and circular to ovate in shape with a dark green, rough-textured upper surface and a lighter green lower leaf surface covered in soft hair. The apex is rounded to broadly tapered, and the base is cordate (1). The flowers of the wild pear are perfect, and white to pale pink, and usually appear in the early spring. (In its native range, the blooming of the wild pear is synonymous with the the start of spring (1,2)). Individual flowers are typically pentamerous and include both stamens and staminodes attached to the petals. Groups of flowers grow in cymes. Following pollination of the flowers, a small, silky-haired, spherical capsule fruit forms (1).
Compound:
Dom rot
Geographic Origin:
South Africa
Ecozone Origin:
Afrotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The wild pear is native to areas in South Africa. They usually grow in woodland, wooded grassland, and rocky mountain slopes from KwaZulu-Natal northwards to Ethiopia. It also can be found in Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and northwards into East Africa. This species is named after the botanist Joseph Dombey, and the rotundifolia is named after its rounded leaves and the wild pear forms (1,2). They grow at elevations around 1,000-2,100 meters above sea level (3).
Cultivation Notes:
The wild pear is a fast-growing tree that uses little water when it matures. At a younger age, however, moderate water is necessary. It is cold hardy to USDA 9 and above (4). They can be propagated from seed and stem cuttings (1,2).
Ethnobotany:
The wild pear has been used extensively, from every day to medicinal uses. The bark of the wild pear is thick, strong and has a blue tint. In fire prone areas, it is a good choice given the protection afforded by its thick bark (1,2,3). Since it has very hard wood, it is used to make handles, and furniture. The fibers of the bark also have been used as ropes. The wood is also termite-resistant, making it great for fences and other building materials (1,2). Medicinally, this plant is beneficial. Tannins are present in the leaf and young shoot, saponins in the bark, and cardiac glycosides in the leaf, shoot, and bark. The roots are used as a purgative. A decoction of the roots is made to treat stomach pain and even syphilis. It also has been used as a treatment for infertility. The bark is also used to treat dizziness, meningitis, chest complaints, palpitations, cardiac weakness, fever, irregular periods, and slow the onset of labor. Infusions of bark stem leaves and roots are ingested to help treat hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and other stomach-related problems. The leaves are also used to treat headaches (3).
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
White
Function:
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Water Use:
