Diospyros lycioides

Diospyros lycioides, commonly called the bushveld bluebush, is a species of African Diospyros, trees and shrubs in the family Ebenaceae. It is native to central and southern Africa, except the winter-rainfall area. It grows in Australia and is known as a weed there. Many parts of the plant are used: the wood, the roots and stems for toothbrushes, the fruits for alcoholic drinks, and the roots and bark in traditional medicine. It can form thickets, and it usually grows up to three meters high, though at its tallest it can be eight meters. It is one of twenty species of Diospyros in South Africa. It has 3-4 subspecies, including D. l. subsp. lycioides, D. l. subsp. guerkei, D. l. subsp. nitens, and D. l. subsp. sericea.

Description

A shrub or small evergreen tree. It can be 3-7 m tall. The bark is dark grey and smooth. It can have several stems. There are 4 different types base on leaf shape and venation. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are leathery. They are usually crowded near the ends of branches. The flowers are bell-shaped. They are white or yellow. The flowers have a sweet smell and hand downwards. The fruit are round or oblong and 2 cm long. They are bright red and fleshy. The seeds are oblong and smooth with a groove along them. There are 2 subspecies.

Edible Uses

Its root and stem are used as toothbrushes, and its wood is used for spoons, toys, construction, and furniture. In South Africa, its fruits are used to make beer and other alcoholic drinks, and its seeds are used as a coffee substitute. It also has many medicinal uses, including treating cold and coughs by chewing the roots, and using the powdered bark of the root as an abortifacient. Its leaves are food for the Mooi River opal butterfly (Chrysoritis lycegenes) and its flowers are attractive to many animals, namely bees and a few African birds.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten sometimes by children. They are bitter. The fruit are also fermented and distilled to produce brandy. The seeds are roasted for coffee.

Medicinal Uses

The roots are chewed as an effective treatment for bad colds or persistent coughing. A decoction of the root, often combined with the roots of Ximenia caffra (plus those of Gymnosporia senegalensis if there is severe pain), is used to treat chest ailments[. Applied externally, the roasted and powdered roots, mixed with mutton fat, make a thorn plaster and are also used to ease body pains.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It can tolerate drought and frost. It grows between 600-1,000 m above sea level in southern Africa, It does well in a sandy soil. It can grow in slightly salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Wittunga Botanical Gardens. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate fairly easily. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. As a rule fresh seeds have a high percentage of fertility. The seedlings develop long taproots at an early stage, often before any appreciable elongation of the shoot takes place. The growth of the seedling is decidedly slow . Cuttings are very difficult to root.

Other Uses

Twigs from this species are commonly used as a toothbrush and have been found to contain effective antibacterial compounds. The roots are also used - a section of the root about the thickness of a pencil is removed, one end is frayed and this is used as the brush end for cleaning the teeth. A yellowish brown dye is obtained from the roots. The bark is a source of tannins. The wood is of high quality. It is used to build huts and to make spoons. The plant can be used for hedging or as a screen.

Production

It has a fast growth rate.

Notes

There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bloubos, Blue bush, Lethlajwa, Lomhlophe, Monkey plum, Mushumadombo, Muthala, Ndima, Oshimumu, Transvaal bluebush, Umcafudane, Umchafutane limhlophe, Umchafutane, Umqathuva

References (32)

• Cheikhyoussef, A & Embashu, W., 2013, Ethnobotanical knowledge on Indigenous fruits in Ohangwena and Oshito regions in Northern Namibia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 9:34
• Cunningham, 1981,
• Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 264
• Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 23
• Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 182

More from Ebenaceae

Diospyros bumelioides

Diospyros burchellii

Diospyros bussei

Diospyros buxifolia

Peacock ebony tree

Diospyros canaliculata

Flint bark

Diospyros capreifolia