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Useful Tropical Plants

Rhamnus prinoides

L'Hér.

Rhamnaceae

+ Synonyms

Rhamnus pauciflora A.Rich

Common Name:

Rhamnus prinoides
Leaves, flowers and ripening fruits
Photograph by: Paul venter
Creative Commons License
Rhamnus prinoides Rhamnus prinoides

General Information

Rhamnus prinoides is a dense evergreen shrub or a small tree that grows up to 7.5 metres tall[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
494
Title
Report on the Natal Forests
Publication
 
Author
Fourcade H.G.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Wm. ;, Natal
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Contains a list of the trees of Natal, with a brief listing of their uses, including many traditional uses. The report can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. When growing as a tree, the bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[
494
Title
Report on the Natal Forests
Publication
 
Author
Fourcade H.G.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Wm. ;, Natal
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Contains a list of the trees of Natal, with a brief listing of their uses, including many traditional uses. The report can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
A multi-purpose tree, providing edible fruit, medicines, fuel etc[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. It is widely planted in home gardens in Eritrea[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. The plant has very attractive leaves and fruits, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Known Hazards

Species in this genus contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives which have a stimulant laxative effect upon the body, and many species are used traditionally as laxatives. In small doses, and for short periods, these can be safe and effective, but used over long periods they can weaken the body's natural ability to defecate and can have a range of long-lasting negative effects upon the body, including anaemia, malabsorption, haematuria and weight loss. Large single doses can cause severe purging.

Botanical References


Range

Africa - mainly eastern Africa from Eritrea and Ethiopia to S. Africa, also in Cameroon, Congo and Angola.

Habitat

Mountain forests, esp. in clearings and along edges; along water courses; in riverine forests; margins of evergreen forests; and also in secondary, mountain evergreen forests and mountain slopes, frequently among rocks[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Wet forests in Eritrea[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height4.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of medium to high elevations in subtropical to tropical areas, where it is found at elevations up to 2,000 metres[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Found at elevations up to 3,700 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.
]. The plant grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature falls within the range 14 - 22°c, but can tolerate 8 - 32°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Established plants can withstand a fair amount of frost, down to -5°c when in growth and as low as -15°c when dormant[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 800mm, tolerating 500 - 1,200mm and is usually found in areas with a distinct dry season[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Grows well in light shade under trees and equally well in full sun[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Succeeds in most soils, but thrives best in moist, humus-rich soils[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but tolerates 5 - 7[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
The tree responds well to coppicing[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].
Generally slow-growing when in low rainfall areas, though it can grow 1 metre per year in wetter areas[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The plant has a non-invasive root system[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].

Edible Uses

Fruits - raw[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. The fruits are about the size of a pea, round and clearly divided into three compartments. They are fleshy and green, turning red and then purple as they ripen[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

The leaves are used as a stimulating flavouring in beer[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].
The stems are used as a hops substitute in making beer[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is taken as a blood purifier, to treat pneumonia, gonorrhoea rheumatism and stomach-ache and as a gargle[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

A leaf decoction may be mixed with the bark of Erythrina abyssinica to alleviate colic[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
The leaves are applied as a liniment to simple sprains[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree casts a dense shade, often preventing the growth of other plants around it[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. It also responds well to trimming and can be shaped into a dense shrub[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. It is used for erosion control, growing well on the banks of streams; to provide shelter; as a low wind break; and as a living fence and hedge[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

All the species of Rhamnus contain a mixture of compounds (mainly rhamnetin, quercitin and rhamnazin) that make a range of good quality dyes. The colour and its intensity depend upon what part of the plant is used as dyeing material (leaves, fruits and bark are most commonly used), at what period of growth it is collected and in what state it is used. With the use of the corresponding mordants (alum, copper and iron vitriols, tin dioxide, chromium, etc.) it is possible to obtain virtually the entire spectrum of colours from lemon-yellow to purple and dark cinnamon-brown, from olive-green to intensive blue and violet[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The dye extracts obtained from the bark, leaves and fruits are suitable for dyeing cottons, silks, woollens, leather, paper and wood. These dyes are often exceptional for their fastness[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, the seeds of Rhamnus species are generally rich in fatty oil and several of them are extracted for use as lubricating oils etc[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The wood is white to yellow, often streaked with brown, pink, red or green[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. It is moderately heavy and hard, close-grained and compact[
494
Title
Report on the Natal Forests
Publication
 
Author
Fourcade H.G.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Wm. ;, Natal
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Contains a list of the trees of Natal, with a brief listing of their uses, including many traditional uses. The report can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Because of the small size of the timber, it is usually only used to make small articles[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The wood is used for fuel[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].

Propagation

Seed - germinates readily when sown fresh[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. Most of the seeds germinate, taking from 2 - 6 weeks, with some still germinating after 8 weeks. Germination rate is usually 80 - 90%[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Rhamnus+prinoides>

Comments

Abadi Berhane 01st April 2015 10:27
Rhamnus prinoides locally called 'Gesho' in ethiopia is an important plant, especially for its use as an ingredient for tej, tella and katicala local drinks, and industrially for beer brewing. It has a considerable contribution as a source of income for women and subsistence farmers. Suppliers, tailors, tella,tej and katikalla brewers make their livelihood depending on this plant. Almost all farmers, and male day laborers in cities and towns in ethiopia use to drink products of this plant.
........ may i am preparing a document on this plant......
Regards;
Abadi

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