Meru Oak (Vitex keniensis)

Meru Oak (Vitex keniensis), commonly called Meru Oak or Mukurwe, is one of Kenya's premier indigenous hardwood timber trees, endemic to Kenya's highland forests including Mount Kenya and the Nyambene Hills. It is a large, majestic, slow-growing tree that develops a massive, spreading canopy of dark, deeply veined compound leaves. The timber is exceptionally hard, durable, and beautifully grained — traditionally valued for furniture making and construction. Beyond its timber value, it is a significant food and habitat tree for wildlife, and planting it contributes directly to Kenya's forest conservation goals.