Embelia keniensis
critically endangered
Embelia keniensis is a climber first recorded growing on Mt Kenya in 1922
Thirty years ago botanists from the East African Herbarium, a department of the National Museums of Kenya, were excited to report that they had identified a huge stand of the climber Embelia keniensis, considered to be extinct, growing in Malewa Forest. Since then we have considered it to be our prize specimen and endeavoured to protect it at all costs. The species remains on IUCN's Red List as Critically Endangered.
The plant is clearly very old and its branches cover a huge area. Every year it sheds all its leaf during the dry season and every year we agonize that it might have died.
Every year, its leaves return during the cold months between the two rainy seasons and, sometimes, although not every year, it has a glorious efflorescence.
The species is difficult to propagate although Dr Mark Nicholson, the Director of Plants for Life International based at Brackenhurst Botanic Garden nearby to Malewa, has succeeded.