Gymnosporia heterophylla

This is the only details the references cited below have about Gymnosporia heterophylla. If you can provide any additional information, photos or reliable records, please leave a comment below or in The Muthi Flora of southern Africa Facebook group.

[caption id="attachment_18322" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Credit: Plants of the World Online[/caption]

Traditional Medicinal Uses of Gymnosporia heterophylla

Indications: Zulu Inyangas use the thorns, mixed with the thorns of Phoenix reclinata, and roots of Euclea natalensis and Capparis tomentosa, that are boiled and then tied to a sharp instrument which is stabbed into the chest of a pleurisy sufferer.

Bark infusions are administered as emetics or enemas for diarrhoea and bark and leaf infusions are administered to stock animals for diarrhoea.

Used by the Sotho, mixed with parts of snakes, as a snakebite remedy.

Root and thorn decoctions are taken for chest colds and coughs by the Tswana, Koba, and Subiya.

Root decoctions are used for haemorrhoids, urine retention and venereal diseases in Botswana.

In various parts of East Africa, root decoctions are taken as anthelmintics and for epilepsy and used for abscesses, hernias and syphilis.

In West Africa, leaves and roots are used for viral infections and as anti-inflammatories. Leaf decoctions are used for dysmenorrhoea in Zambia and applied topically for measles in Botswana.

Magical and charm use: Rubbed on the body as a love charm by the Sotho.

Physiological effects: Reputed to be toxic by Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk (1962). Instruments made from the wood can irritate the skin and flowers are unpleasantly scented.

Gymnosporia heterophylla Botanical Information

Species name: Hetero =variable, phylla = leaves, refer to the apical leaves always being smaller than the leaves lower down.

Synonyms: Formerly know as Maytenus heterophylla

Morphology: Gymnosporia heterophylla is a small single- or multistemmed shrub, less than 3 m. Sometimes a small tree similar to G. buxifolia. It has drooping branches, with long straight thorns. The heavily striated stems, and habit, makes it easy to identify. The bark on mature trees is greyish-brown and rough. The leaves are green and hairless and are usually clustered on very short branchlets in the axils of the spines or occasionally on green spines. The terminal leaves are always smaller than the leaves lower down. Whitish flowers are clustered among the leaves and have a very strong, unpleasant scent. The fruits are 3-lobed greenish-yellow to greyish-brown capsules which are wrinkled when dry.

Gymnosporia heterophylla, with its spiky thorns, make a very effective, fast-growing security hedge. The wood is hard and durable, suitable for carving. The flowers, however, attract flies and other pollinating insects.

Habitat: Occurs in small colonies in grassland or bushveld.

References

Taxonomy

Arnold. T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R. and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Traditional Medicine Usage

Arnold. T.H., Prentice, C.A., Hawker, L.C., Snyman, E.E., Tomalin, M., Crouch, N.R. and Pottas-Bircher, C. (2002). Medicinal and magical plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 13. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., Cunnigham, A.B., (1996). Zulu Medicinal Plants: an inventory. University of Natal

Life Cycle, Morphology, Habitat, and Distribution information.

Germizhuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds) 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Wildflower Nursery - http://wildflowernursery.co.za

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