Sticky hop-bush, Common sand olive
Dodonaea viscosa

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can be 10 m high. It can have many stems. The leaves are sticky and are 3-10 cm long. They are narrow with wavy edges. A variety with purple leaves also occurs. The flowers are greenish. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The fruit are hops 18 mm long and with wings. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches. They can be red or white. Many different kinds or subspecies of this plant occur. The seed is edible.

There are about 70 Dodonea species. They are mostly in Australia.

Where it is found

They suit tropical and warm places. They often grow on rocky, stony or sandy soil. Plants are damaged by frost. In Tasmania it grows near the East Coast. It can grow in semi arid places as well as on the edges of evergreen forest in high rainfall areas. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 2,700 m altitude. It needs a temperature above 3-5°C. It can grow in arid places. It is highly salt tolerant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Melbourne Botanical gardens. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Andaman Is., Angola, Antigua-Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, French Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Martinique, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Is., North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Socotra, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, St Helena, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania (country/location of origin), Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds have been used as a flavouring. The bitter fruit have been used as a substitute for hops and yeast in making beer. The leaves have been chewed as a stimulant but as they can cause cancer and contain saponins which are poisonous but poorly absorbed, this is probably not a good idea.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate in 3 weeks but they can be slow to germinate. They need a temperature above 18°C. Seeds can be soaked in water at 65°C for 4 minutes and then in cool water for 24 hours. Plants can be pruned often and make a good hedge in windy places. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Plants can be grown from cuttings of half ripe wood. Plants need to be transplanted when small or sown directly where they are to grow.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Akeake, Aliar, Bandara, Bandedu, Benmenu, Broadleaf hopbush, Bururr, Chapulixtle, Chotia, Dingadinganalahy, Hmaing, Hopbush, Iheji, Jakhmi, Kmba, Kudhi-ruuvaali, Lala vao, Lamouaye, Liheji, Mehndi, Meshrass, Mkengata, Mohra, Muia, Musambya, Muwena-muthua, Native hops, Nedeg-deg-ca, Nedege-degeca, Paniaphul, Sanatha, Sand olive, Sentha, Sinatha, Switch-sorrel, Te kaiboia, Unnataruvi, Varnish-leaf, Vassoura-vermelha, Velari, Xayramad

Synonyms

Ptelea viscosa L.; Dodonaea angustissima DC.; Dodonaea attenuata (A.Cunn.); Dodonaea angustifolia L.f.; Dodonaea burmanniana DC.; Dodonaea dioica Roxb.; Dodonea linearifolia Turcz.; Dodonea schiedeana Schltdl.; Dodonea thunbergiana Eckl. & Zeyh.; and others - some confusion