Dobera glabra

Dobera glabra is an evergreen shrub or tree native to the Somali peninsula, Northeastern Kenya and Ethiopia as well as South Tihamah. In Somali speaking regions, it is widely known as Garas. In Ethiopia, it is found in Nechisar National Park and along the Sagan River in the Konso special woreda. It is also sparsely distributed in Afar Region where the tree is much known for its fruits. It is known to grow up to 10 m (33 ft). It is well known to the local Konso people (who call it karsata) for growing new shoots, flowers, and seeds during dry weather. They use it as an indicator of potential famine and drought conditions. D. glabra produces edible fruits and the seed is considered a typical famine food. However, the fruits must be cooked for a long time (i.e. up to 24 hours), they have a bad smell, and excessive consumption causes stomach aches and other intestinal problems. General description It is an much branched evergreen shrub or tree up to 8m. The bark is green to dark grey and patchy. Leaves are opposite, yellow to grey-green, thick, smooth, veins hardly seen, up to 7 cm long, tip usually notched. Flowers are small and white in colour. Fruits are ovoid to 2 cm, with 1 - 2 flat seeds. Paradoxically it produces better and more seeds in dry spell (under moisture stress conditions) than in normal times.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows 10 m tall. The bark is green or grey and patchy. The leaves are opposite and grey-green. They are thick and smooth. The leaves can be 7 cm long. There is often a notch at the tip. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are oval and 2 cm long. They have 1 or 2 flat seeds.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit pulp is eaten raw. The kernels are edible after repeated boiling or cooking for up to 24 hours. Gum from the tree is also eaten. The seeds are used as a famine food.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit pulp is eaten raw. The kernels are eaten after repeated boiling or cooking for up to 24 hours. If it is eaten in large amounts it can cause stomach upsets. Gum from the tree is eaten.

Known Hazards

Consumption of large amounts of kernel can cause stomach upsets.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It produces better during times of drought. It grows in dry areas and salty soils. In East Africa it grows between 400-1,300 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It grows in areas with a mean annual rainfall between 100-600 mm.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. They are sown directly where they are to grow. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Propagation

Seeds should be collected from the trees just as the fruits are turning brown. No pre-treatment is required before sowing, but germination is quite slow, probably dependent on the age of the seeds. After extraction, seeds should be sown immediately. Under ideal conditions, fresh and carefully extracted seeds germinate within 40 - 60 days, the expected germination rate for mature and healthy seed lots is 80% on average. Growth is slow; even after a year, seedlings may have grown only 10 cm in height. It is recommended that seedlings spend no more than 4 - 5 months in the nursery, as repeated root pruning will damage the plant. An alternative is direct seeding, where seeds are planted just before the rains in some form of microcatchment. The slow-growing, palatable seedlings need to be protected from browsing for the 1st 4 - 5 years of their lives. The seed has a very short viability and needs to be sown within a few days of being separated from the fruit.

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. Used as a perfume. (Listed as D. roxburghii) The fairly soft wood is used for carvings such as for pestles, mortars, spoons, storage containers and other domestic items. It is also used for making bed-frames and stools. The tree is planted for firewood.

Production

It is a very slow growing tree. It yields more leaves and fruit during drought times. In Kenya trees flower March to April and fruit July to August.

Other Information

It is an important famine food. The seeds are eaten as a famine food.

Notes

There are 2 Dobera species. When the shrub shoots prolifically it indicates drought is approaching.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ade, Domaye, Ekee, Garas, Garsa, Garse, Garsee, Gasera, Geresa, Gharsa, Ghersa, Haras, Kadite, Karsata, Keresion, Kerseta, Kikaitha, Kisiu, Kithio, Koros, Korosion, Mikae, Mkuha, Mudua, Zobra

References (30)

• 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
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Bahru, T., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plants: Sustainable Use and Management by Indigenous Communities in and the Buffer Area of Awah National Park, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Sci., 36(2): 93-108
• Balemie, K., & Kebebew, F., 2006, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Derashe and Kucha Districts, South Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

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