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Useful Tropical Plants

Gymnosporia serrata

(Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Loes.

Celastraceae

+ Synonyms

Celastrus schimperi Hochst. ex A.Rich.

Celastrus serratus Hochst. ex A.Rich.

Maytenus serrata (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) R.Wilczek

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Gymnosporia serrata is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing from 0.8 - 4 metres tall, with spines up to 27mm long[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its leaves, which are used medicinally. The plant has also been suggested as an evergreen hedge.
Gymnosporia serrata has an estimated population size of fewer the 10,000 mature individuals and has been experiencing significant declines of 10% over three generations (45-50 years). Threats stem from the increased human population in the region, leading to agricultural expansion, increased grazing and use of the species for firewood and charcoal production. There are few conservation actions in place for this species. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Northeast Africa - Ethiopia.

Habitat

Rocky or grassy slopes or in flatter areas in open fields as bushes often in clumps of 2 - 4 together, at elevations of around 1,650 - 2,250 metres[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusVulnerable
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height2.50 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The plant is used for food[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. No more information is given.

Medicinal

The leaves, known as 'add-add', are used in the treatment of malaria[
526
Title
An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
Publication
 
Author
Gould G.M.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
Year
1907
ISBN
 
Description
A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
]. They contain tannin, a bitter principle, celastrin, and a volatile oil[
526
Title
An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences.
Publication
 
Author
Gould G.M.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
P. Blakiston's Son & Co.; Philadelphia.
Year
1907
ISBN
 
Description
A major work at the time, though very dated now. Contains quite a lot of information about medicinal plant uses.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has been recommended as suitable for growing as an evergreen hedge[
452
Title
The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture (6 volumes)
Publication
 
Author
Bailey L.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
The MacMillan Company, Toronto.
Year
1919
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but it still contains a wealth of useful information. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].

Other Uses

The wood is used to make farming implements[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gymnosporia+serrata>

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