Ehretia rigida

Ehretia rigida (puzzle bush, also deurmekaarbos in Afrikaans = "confused/tangled bush"), is a small, multi-stemmed tree with a tangled growth habit belonging to the family Ehretiaceae. It occurs over a wide range of habitat throughout the eastern part of South Africa, and in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The species is deciduous, hardy and normally grows to about 5 meters tall. Branches are quite rigid, hence its specific name. Leaves are in tufts, leathery and rough with adpressed minute barbs along the margins. Almost invariably there are small pockets of hairs or acarodomatia, providing a refuge for mites in the axils of veins on the underside of the leaves. Bark is smooth and uniformly ash-grey, becoming rough on older stems. Fragrant lilac-coloured to white flowers are produced in early spring and are followed by small 8mm diameter fruits bearing a persistent style, green at first, turning orange, red and finally black. Seeds are some 3 millimeters in length, reniform and sculpted on the abaxial surface. Each fruit contains 4 seeds. The genus honours the botanist Georg Dionysius Ehret, a celebrated botanist and botanical illustrator of the 18th century.

Description

A small straggly tree which loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2-5 m tall. It has a short stem and spreading crown. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are broadly oval and 2.5 cm long. They are leathery and borne close together near the ends of twigs. The flowers are pale pink. They are 7 mm across. The occur in clusters in branches. The fruit are round and orange to red. They are small and cherry like and in clusters. The seed are oval, brown, hard and fibrous. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw and are very sweet; they can also be prepared with water to make a gravy. The leaves are used as a drink.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. They are very sweet. They are also prepared with water and used as a gravy.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows from 800 m to 1200 m altitude. It occurs from the edges of evergreen forest to open woodland. It is drought and frost resistant. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.

Where It Grows

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

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in 10-20 days. Seedlings can be transplant at the 2 leaf stage.

Production

It is fast growing.

Other Information

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Notes

There are about 50 Ehretia species. They have also been put in the family Ehretiaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bhungela, Bhungele, Deurmekaarbos, Iklele, Morobe, Morobo, Muhambe, Nyakashemveri, Swartbos, Umbotshane, Umcele, Umhlele, Umhloli, Umkele, Umklele, Umqxele, Umthele, Umxele

References (32)

• Arnold, T.H., Wells, M.J. & Wehmeyer, A.S., Khoisan food plants: taxa with potential for future economic exploitation, in Wickens, G.E., Goodin, J.R., and Field, D.V.,(Eds.) 1985, Plants for Arid Lands. Unwin Hyman, London, p 73
• Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 4:620. 1917
• Cunningham, 1985,
• FAO, 1988, Traditional Food Plants, FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 42. FAO Rome p 261
• Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 132

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