Rhamnus prinoides

Leaves of the African alder

The African buckthorn ( Rhamnus prinoides, Syn. Rhamnus A.Rich pauciflora ), called in Ethiopia Gesho, is a plant which belongs to the family of the buckthorn family ( Rhamnaceae ).

Description

The African buckthorn is an evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach the stature heights of up to 9 feet, at high altitude it reaches heights of growth of 4 to 5 meters. The bark is smooth, grayish - brown and dark brown in old age, young twigs she is hairy fluffy, later glabrous. The leaves are arranged opposite one another on the branches. The simple leaf blade is elongated elliptical with a length of 1.5 to 5 centimeters and a width of 2.5 to 10 centimeters. The leaf tips are bent downwards. The upper leaf surface is dark green glossy and the lower leaf surface is dull.

Up to ten short -stalked flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils. The small, inconspicuous flowers are fünfzählig. The petals are greenish. The pea- large (5 mm), berry-like and bright red, sometimes black in fully ripe stone fruit contains three seeds and are edible. In southern Africa, the flowering time is from October to December, fruits form in the spring.

Occurrence

The African buckthorn occurs in middle altitudes in eastern Africa. Its original habitat is South Africa and the highlands of Ethiopia, where it grows at altitudes of up to 2100 meters. It is most commonly found near rivers or forest edges. Before the bright, grassy hills of the South African highlands standing together in groups small trees appear because of their dark leaves as almost black. The African alder can tolerate frost well, growing in the sun and in partial shade.

Use

The use of African sloth tree is very different in the two distribution areas. The main benefit in South Africa and Lesotho is the traditional use of the twigs as a defense against lightning spells and generally all Sinister. When people of the Basotho called the tree Mofifi, in their habitat in the highlands of Lesotho, one of the highest lightning strike numbers per square kilometer, is measured. At the same time Fruits and leaves are taken herbal medicine against various diseases. The name Blinkblaar in Afrikaans carries both these types of alder and the buffalo thorn ( Ziziphus mucronata ), the similar effect will be awarded.

In Ethiopia the leaves and stems for the manufacture of wooden Tej (honey wine) and Talla ( millet beer ) are used as an additive in the fermentation. The bitter-tasting leaves are dried and ground buried the Talla, for Tej Gesho dried stalks are boiled in water, then the decoction is added to the honey. The application for an alcoholic beverage can already be found in the Greek geographer Strabo ( 63 BC to 23 AD) mentioned. The immemorial strictly hierarchical Ethiopian society associated to the high-order Tej, were distinguished at the different levels of quality, an appropriate cultural significance and allowed the lower people simply enjoy the simple Talla. On certain occasions by the ruler, these drinks were served to the people according to the social order and the consolidation thereof. Therefore the Gesho - tree is of cultural importance in Ethiopia.

The wood is yellowish-white, interspersed with dark veins, suitable moderately hard and to a small extent as a carpenter wood. Meaningful use is for erosion control at the edge of streams and as windbreaks along field margins. The flowers are popular with bees.

Swell

• Mhlonishwa D. Dlamini and Sharon Turner: Rhamnus prinoides L' Herit. Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, March 2002 at plantzafrica.com.
• Rhamnus prinoides at AgroForestryTree Database. A tree species reference and selection guide.