Shiny leaf, South African dogwood
Rhamnus prinoides

Family: Rhamnaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can scramble. It can also be a small tree. It can grow to 7-15 m high. The bark is brown. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are oblong and 3-10 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. They are very glossy dark green above and dull green below. The edges are finely toothed. The flowers are small and green. They are on slender stalks. They occur in sparse clusters in the axils of leaves. There are 2-10 flowers in a group. The fruit is berry-like. It is oval and 5 mm across. The fruit are red. They are edible.

There are over 100 Rhamnus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows at medium and high altitudes in South Africa. It is often near rivers and on the edges of evergeen forest. Plants are hardy. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,340-2,270 m above sea level. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The dried leaves are used to flavour drinks. The stems are used as a substitute for hops in beer making. The roots and stems are used in tonic soups.

Leaves are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, root, stem

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds are collected fresh from fruit off a tree and the flesh removed. Seed germinate easily. They germinate in 6-8 weeks.

Trees grow quickly. Trees are harvested 3 times a year by stripping off the leaves, except the growing tips. Harvesting is started when trees are 3 years old. Trees can continue to be harvested for 50 years. A fruit weighs about 0.3 g.

Its other names

Local names

Buckthorn, Dogwood, Geesho, Geisho, Geshe, Gesho, Geshoo, Inyenye, Mofifi buckthorn, Musvosvadziva, Sineyi, Woody hops, Xaddo

Synonyms

Alaternus prinoides (L'Hér.) Raf.; Celtis rhamnifolia C. Presl [Illegitimate]; Ziziphus lucida Moench;