Rhamnus staddo (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Rhamnus staddo (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Rhamnus staddo Rhamnaceae Indigenous
Common names
- Amargna: Tedo, Tsedo
- Oromugna: Qadida
- Shinashgna: Kistani‑schahala, Quloum
- Somaligna: Jajale
- Tigrigna: Tsedo
Ecology
Distributed from Eritrea and Ethiopia south through East Africa to Zimbabwe and also in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Ethiopia, it occurs in rocky and valley areas of semi‑humid and humid lowland and in woodlands at moderate altitudes in Tigray, Gonder, Shoa, Arsi, Kefa, Gamo Gofa, Sidamo, Bale, and Harerge. It does well in Moist and Wet Dega and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones, 1,400–2,900 m.
Uses
Firewood, flavouring (leaves).
Description
A small bushy rigidly branched shrub or small tree growing to 5 m.
- BARK: Grey‑brown, smooth.
- LEAVES: Small, narrow and oblong, to 5.5 cm long, clustered on short side branches which may be spine tipped. Leaf tip is pointed, rounded or notched, the edge with small rounded teeth.
- FLOWERS: Small green‑yellow, only 2–4 together, 4 petals, almond scented.
- FRUIT: Red to purple berries, only 5 mm across.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
- Treatment: Not necessary.
- Storage: Stores well.
Management
Coppicing.
Remarks
The species tolerates repeated coppicing. It is used for flavouring in the same way as R. prinoides, but less commonly and only for ‘tej’.
