Common Name:

General Information

Euclea natalensis is a very variable, evergreen plant, ranging from a small shrub up to a moderately large tree with a spreading crown and a bole 20cm or more in diameter. It grows from 2 - 18 metres tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a dye plant, tooth cleaner and for medicinal purposes.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Coastal thicket, often subjected to salt spray, bushland, thicket and scrub forest, at elevations from sea level to around 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, usually in drier regions at low to moderate elevations.
At least one subspecies, E. Natalensis rotundifolia, is tolerant of salt spray[].
A very variable species, eight subspecies are recognised[, ].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seeds are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is used as an anthelmintic[].

Other Uses

A black dye is obtained from the bark of the roots[, ]. It is said to be a good floor stain[], and is also used for dying mats[].
The roots are also chewed by women to impart a red colour to their mouths[].


Both the peeled twigs and unpeeled roots are used as chewing sticks in order to clean the teeth and maintain oral hygiene[]. The bark contains compounds with antimicrobial activity and is best left on the stem when chewing[].

Propagation

Seed -

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