Cultivation Details
Grows best in flat but well-drained sites[1]. The tree is classified as a shade-bearer. In the forest, seedlings are most common in the shade, although generally less common than those of Leplaea cedrata. For proper development of seedlings, some opening of the forest canopy seems essential[1]. Initial growth of seedlings is slow. When they are exposed to more sunlight after one year, growth may speed up. However, planted trees in Nigeria reached on average only 10 metres in height and 20 cm in diameter after 25 years, and it has been estimated that it takes about 200 years for Leplaea thompsonii trees to reach 100cm in bole diameter[1]. Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round[2]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[2].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe because it has a short viability[1]. Germination is rather slow, taking 20 - 35 days[1]. Seedlings are drought sensitive[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leplaea+thompsonii>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [2]A taxonomic revision of the reinstated genus Leplaea and the newly recognized genus Neoguarea — Koenen E.J.M.; de Wilde J.J.F.E. · The Royal Botanical Society; Belgium. · 2012 · http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2012.656 · ISBN 2032-3913 ↩︎A review of the genus Guarea in Africa, it excludes all the African species from that genus, placing the majority of them in Leplaea and one in Neoguarea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.