Ziziphus mucronata

Ziziphus mucronata, known as the buffalo thorn, is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae, native to southern Africa. It is deciduous and may grow up to 17 metres tall. It can survive in a variety of soil types, occurring in many habitats, mostly open woodlands, often on soils deposited by rivers, and grows frequently on termite mounds. Its Zulu name “umLahlankosi” alludes to its use as a grave marker for tribal chiefs, while the Afrikaans name “Blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie” alludes to the shiny light green leaves and the hooked thorns.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 9 m tall. It has many sharp thorns. It has spreading and often drooping branches. The trunk is often crooked. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are shiny and have 3 veins from the base. The leaves are 2.5-8 cm long by 1.9-8 cm wide. Leaves and young plant parts can be hairy. There can be thorns at the nodes. The flowers are small and green. The flowers are in small clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round. They are red and shiny. There is a sweet mealy pulp around a large seed.

Edible Uses

The leaves are edible and can be cooked into spinach. The seeds can be roasted and ground as a substitute for coffee. The fruit are not very tasty, though a type of beer can be made from them. The Ovambo people use it to distill ombike, a traditional liquor. The leaves and fruits are also a valuable source of forage for livestock.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh or dried. Often they are eaten in porridge. They can be used for drinks. The fruit are also ground and used in coffee. The roasted seeds are crushed and used as a coffee substitute. The fruit have been fermented for beer. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses

A blend made from the roots is used as a painkiller and for dysentery while the bark and leaves are used for respiratory ailments and sepsis on the skin. A paste made from the roots and leaves will treat boils, sores and swelling. The above may be attributed to the peptide alkaloids and antifungals isolated from the bark and leaves. Branches are used for protection of cattle kraal and sometimes on the graves of dead tribal members. The wood is used for implements and fuel. The leaves bark and roots are used medicinally and magically for pain relief, respiratory complaints and skin infections, especially for chest and stomach disorders. The leaves if crushed may be used to stop bleeding. Steam baths from the bark are used to purify and improve the complexion. In East Africa, roots are used for treating snake bites.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in open scrub. It can grow on a range of soils. It is often on embankments and termite mounds. In East Africa it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level. It is drought resistant. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Where It Grows

Africa*, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. It is best to remove the seeds from the stone by cracking with a hammer. Seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks when outside the stone or 2 months when inside the stone.

Propagation

Seed - remove the flesh from around the seed then soak the seed in cold water for 6 hours. Cover the seed in seedling trays with a thin layer of river sand and keep moist. Seeds usually germinate in 2 - 3 weeks with a minimum of 75% germination. Seedlings transplant easily into black nursery soil but they have long taproots and care should be taken not to damage them. Root suckers.

Other Uses

The bark contains 12 - 15% tannin. The seeds are used in rosaries. The yellow-pink wood is hard, tough and bends well. Although it is termite-resistant, it is not very durable in the ground. It is used for building poles and posts, live and dry fences, and for hunting and fishing weaponry. Whips and bows are made from saplings and from the flexible shoots. Thorny branches are sometimes used to make kraals. The wood makes a good fuel and charcoal A useful species to plant as a hedge around camps. It forms an impenetrable hedge for at least 10 years before the crown is too high off the ground to act as a barrier. The root system is not aggressive. The plant has been used to stabilize soils along the banks of rivers. When the plant is growing wild, it is often seen as an indication of underground water.

Production

Seedlings grow quickly. They can be 4-6 m high in 4-5 years.

Other Information

The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.

Notes

Chemical composition: Protein (crude): 2.8% (dry). Fat = 2.1% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 4.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 4.1%. Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 29.5% (dry). Sucrose = 48,5% (dry). D-glucose = 1.1% (dry). D-fructose = 1.0% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 16.6g. Threonine = 3.4g. Serine = 3.9g. Glutamic acid = 17.6g. Proline = 5.3g. Glycine = 4.9g. Alanine = 7.5g. Valine= 5.1g. Cysteine = 1.0g. Methionine = 1.0g. Isoleucine = 4.3g. Leucine = 8.5g. Tyrosine = 3.6g. Phenylalanine = 4.3g. Lysine = 3.9g. Histidine = 1.4g. Arginine = 4.7g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.05% (dry). Potassium = 0.12% (dry). Magnesium = 0.10% (dry). Calcium = 0.27% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 2.08% (dry). Zinc = 6mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 289 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 10mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 3mg/kg-1 (dry).

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Angaw, Bokxalo, Buqunqura, Chinanga, Cidir, Djabi fourou, Ghaghari, Imphafa, Ireme bale, Kagowole, Kangwa, Kangwa, Kankona, Kitola usuu, Kitoloussuu, Kobta, Koopta, Kurkura hado, Kurquura, Kusia-a, Lango, Langu, Loilalei, Mausu, Mgugune, Mkunazi, Mnyangwe, Mokekete, Mokgalo, Mokhalo, Mothalo, Msarakanga, Muae, Mubuyu, Muchecheni, Mughughunu, Mugugune, Mukala, Mukekete, Mukhalu, Mukwata, Mupakwe, Mupasamala, Mutanula, Mutshetshate, Mutsotsomba, Ngorloki-govong, Ngugunu, Nphasamhala, Olango, Ol-oilale, Oloilahi, Oloilalei, Omukaru, Omukekete, Qurqura, Souroukou tomonon, Umlah’abantfu, Umpafa, Umpakwe, Umpatle, Umphafa

References (82)

• andELMUTI,
• Addis, G., et al, 2005, Ethnobotanical Study of Edible Wild Plants in Some Selected Districts of Ethiopia. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 83-118
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Alfarhan, A. H., 2005, Flora of Jizan Region. AR 17-7. King andulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). p 260

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