Brachylaena huillensis

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{speciesbox

|image = Mobot31753002356696 0066.jpg

|image_caption =

|status = LR/nt

|status_system = IUCN2.3

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=World Conservation Monitoring Centre |date=1998 |title=Brachylaena huillensis |volume=1998 |page=e.T33474A9786563 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33474A9786563.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}}

|genus = Brachylaena

|species = huillensis

|authority = O. Hoffm.

|synonyms = B. hutchinsii Hutch.{{cite journal| last= Beentje | first= Henk | date= 2000 | title= The Genus Brachylaena | journal= Kew Bulletin | volume= 55 | issue= 1 | pages= 14-15}}

}}

Brachylaena huillensis, the muhuhu, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found in the montane forests of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. With a height of up to {{cvt|40|m}} it is, with Strobocalyx arborea, a candidate for the tallest of all composites (daisy family), and at up to {{cvt|60|cm}} trunk diameter also the most massive.

The tree has a very hard wood, which makes it ideal for processing into charcoal; it was Kenya's main source of fuel until the 1830s.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=360 |title=Species Information |website=www.worldagroforestry.org |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154621/http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=360 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead}} It is still a popular fuel source, and in some areas it is threatened by overexploitation. This has led to concern from conservationists over habitat loss for endemic animal species living in Brachylaena cloud forests.{{Cite journal | doi=10.1017/S0959270900000058| title=Conservation evaluation for birds of Brachylaena woodland and mixed dry forest in north-east Tanzania| journal=Bird Conservation International| volume=10| pages=47–65| year=2000| last1=Cordeiro| first1=Norbert J.| last2=Githiru| first2=Mwangi| doi-access=free}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=360|title=Agrofostree Species profile|website=www.worldagroforestry.org|access-date=2017-08-16}}