Dombeya rotundifolia aka Umwane

Dombeya rotundifolia, or wild pear, belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its native range runs from southern Ethiopia to southern Africa. It grows in grassland, woodland and forest, often on termite mounds. Much of its habitat lies at higher elevations. In the south, it also grows close to sea level. Kew places it in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

This deciduous plant forms a shrub or small tree. Many branches make an open crown with a rounded shape. Reported usual heights reach about 26–30 feet [8–9 metres]. Unusual trees can reach 49 feet [15 metres]. Growth can be fast, adding 3–5 feet [1–1.5 metres] each year. Old trunks have dark brown bark with a rough, corky surface. This thick layer helps shield the trunk from fire. The tree sheds its leaves, rather than keeping them year-round.

Bees pollinate the flowers, and the plant bears seed capsules. The supplied sources give no clear flowering months. People cook the flowers and serve them as a vegetable dish. Some add pumpkin leaves to the dish. One source also lists fruit as food, but questions that report. Its concern rests on the fruit being a seed capsule. The same source lists no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for every use.

A sunny site suits this tree best. Established plants withstand drought, while mature trees tolerate some frost. The evidence gives no precise minimum temperature or hardiness zone. Gardeners grow it for ornament and use it along avenues. It can also be trained as bonsai. Seeds offer one way to raise new plants. They usually sprout within three weeks in partly shaded seed trays. Semi-ripe cuttings provide another way to propagate it.

People harvest wild trees for medicine and wood. Traditional remedies use roots, leaves, shoots and bark. Tests of leaf and shoot extracts found anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. These findings do not prove that home remedies are safe or effective. Young shoot bark supplies fibre for rope. The strong, durable wood serves for furniture, poles and tool handles. Small, twisted pieces limit its wider use as timber. The cited 2011 IUCN assessment lists the species as Least Concern.