Rhus natalensis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

← Rhus glutinosa

Bekele-Tesemma, Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia, 2007 Rhus natalensis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Rhus retinorrhoea →

Rhus natalensis Anacardiaceae Indigenous

Common names

• Amargna: Chakema, Takuma
• Oromugna: Debobosso, Debobosha, Tatessa
• Tigrigna: Tetale, Thathalo

Ecology

A bush widespread in Africa. In Ethiopia it usually grows in wooded savannah, on forest edges and in lowland woodlands in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones of most regions, 1,200- 3,000 m.

Uses

Firewood, charcoal, tools, farm tools, food (fruit), medicine (leaves and leaf decoctions, pounded roots), toothbrushes (stems).

Description

A many‑branched shrub or tree, sometimes tending to scramble, up to 8 m in height.

• BARK: Grey, often almost white, branchlets pale and dotted with breathing pores, branches angular.
• LEAVES: three-foliolate, the central leaflet largest to 9 cm, usually dark green, rather leathery, hairless, sometimes toothed, very variable, wider towards the tip, narrowed to the base, on a stalk 2–4 cm.
• FLOWERS: Green‑yellow in loose heads to 15 cm.
• FRUIT: Oblong to bean‑shaped, smooth, red with thin flesh and a waxy covering, about 5 mm, edible. The dry papery fruit soon fall.

Propagation

Seedlings.

Seed

About 26,000—30,000 seed per kg. Germination is fast and good.

• Treatment: Not necessary.
• Storage: Remains viable for only about 3 months at room temperature.

Management

Coppicing.

Remarks

The charcoal sparks, fuelling a noisy and spreading fire.