This species is very closely related to Euclea divinorum, which it replaces in large parts of South Africa and Namibia. In the narrow zone of overlap they sometimes occur side by side without any sign of intermediates[].

Common Name:

General Information

Euclea undulata is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing up to 6 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for a range of local uses including food, medicine and timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Africa - Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland.

Habitat

Bushland and scrub woodland, from near sea level to elevations of 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Tolerates low concentrations of copper in the soil[]. It is also locally dominant as dwarfed plants on soils with a high antimony and arsenic content[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The brownish to black fruits are edible[]. The fruit of this, as well as other members of the genus, is called 'guarri'; when bruised and fermented it yields a kind of vinegar[]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter, it contains a single large seed surrounded by a thin sweet-flavoured flesh[].

Medicinal

The bark is used for the treatment of headaches, toothaches and other pains[].

An infusion of the leaves is taken to treat diarrhoea and disorders of the stomach, and as a gargle to relieve tonsillitis[].

Root infusions are used as enemas, or as an ingredient of inembe (medication taken regularly during pregnancy to ensure a trouble-free confinement. The use of root preparations to induce emesis or purgation is also recorded[].

Several medically active compounds have been identified in the plant[].
The branches and leaves contain triterpenoids, tannins, saponins and reducing sugars[].
The fruits contain the napthoquinone isodiospyrin[].
The naphthoquinones 7-methyl-juglone (a) and diospyrin (b) have been isolated from the roots[].
The bark is reported to contain 3.26% of tannin[].
Aqueous extracts, prepared from dried leaf material at a concentration of 40mg/ml, have shown antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. This result, together with the demonstrated presence of tannins in the leaves of this species, supports its use as an anti-diarrhoeal and for the relief of tonsillitis[].

As both anti-diarrhoeal and purgative actions are reported for this species, dosage and method of preparation require standardisation. Its use as an anti-diarrhoeal by pregnant women and children is not for the present recommended[].

Other Uses

The twigs can be frayed and used as a toothbrush.

The wood is brown, hard, close-grained, and fit for joiners' fancy work, veneering[].

Propagation

Seed -

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