Brachylaena huillensis
| Brachylaena huillensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Brachylaena |
| Species: | B. huillensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachylaena huillensis | |
| Synonyms | |
|
B. hutchinsii Hutch. It is perhaps most noteworthy for being, along with Vernonia arborea, a candidate for being the tallest (up to 131 feet [ forty meters]) and second most massive (up to two feet, or 61 centimeters) in thickness. | |
Brachylaena huillensis, the muhuhu, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found in the montane forests of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. With a height of up to 131 feet (forty meters) it is, with Vernonia arborea, a candidate for the tallest of all composites (daisy family), and at up to 60 centimeters (two feet) also the most massive.
The tree has a very hard wood, which makes it ideal for processing into charcoal. In fact, the tree was Kenya's main source of fuel until the 1830s. It is still a popular fuel source, and in some areas it is threatened by overexploitation. This has led to concern from conservationists over habitat loss for endemic animal species living in Brachylaena cloud forests.