Hitia Forest Fruit Tree

The Hitia is popular with local people. The tree is one of the best known in the forest. Around Moraro there are two species, a tall specie and a smaller specie.

For me, the Hitia is attractive when in bloom. Its bright yellow flowers attract insects such as bees that create a delightful hum as they search for nectar. The rain beats the flowers to the ground after some time and ants, including the leaf cutter ants known locally as Cushi ants are attracted to them as they turn brown.

Tiny green berries develop on sprigs and takes months, from around July to October to gradually ripen into yellow berries - the same shade as the flowers. It is then the value of the Hitia can be seen. Birds of different sorts come to feed on the fruits. They are coveted by parrots and parakeets which arrive, one flock at a time and feed until startled or ready to leave. Local people, especially children love the sweet-sour taste of the fruit. The fruit can be made into a delightful drink.

The Hitia has another benefit to local people. It is valued as firewood because of its hardness. Luckily, trees are fast growing and are not harvested as wood unless mature and has fallen on their own. Once freshly fallen, trees can be manufactured into boards or timber for building.

Hitia trees grow well in white sandy soil and seeds germinate quite readily. After each season there are hundreds of tiny plants on the sandy floor.

It is still to be investigated locally, as to the exact number of years it can take for a tree to mature but every indication points to the tree as one that can be harvested on a sustainable basis. The wood is recognized locally as a hardwood. It has a lovely light pinkish brown colour.

Thankfully, because it is only harvested locally after falling down on its own and it does not take too long to mature the Hitia shows promise of being around for a long time. This would be more assured, if local people are supported in preserving the species in their traditional way.