Rhus vulgaris (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
From PlantUse English
| Rhus vulgaris (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Rhus vulgaris Anacardiaceae Indigenous
Common names
- Amargna: Qmmo, Yeregna kolo
- Oromugna: Tatesa, Dabobessa
Ecology
Its range extends from Cameroon in West Africa to Ethiopia and south to Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Ethiopia, it is a very common shrub at forest edges and in woodlands in Dry, Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zone in most regions, 1,500–2,800 m.
Uses
Firewood, farm tools, food (fruit), medicine (fruit decoction).
Description
A shrub or small tree that occasionally reaches 6 m. Branchlets brown, hairy.
- LEAVES: 3 leaflets, dull green, softly hairy, especially below, oval to rounded, usually 5 cm long, the tip either rounded, notched or sharp, the upper edges sometimes with large rounded teeth; leaf stalk to 4 cm, leaflets, branchlets and underside of leaflets are densely hairy; leaflet sizes very variable.
- FLOWERS: Small bunches on hairy branched sprays, to 15 cm, yellow‑green, with bright yellow stamens.
- FRUIT: Thin, yellow‑red, flat and round discs, brownishred when dry, only 3–5 mm across, edible.
Propagation
Seedlings.
Seed
- Storage: Remains viable only about 3 months at room temperature.
Management
Coppicing. Rather slow growing.
Remarks
Fruits taste better when roasted. Shepherds in Ethiopia roast and eat them while out in the pastures.
