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Chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana)

Chinee apple is native to Southern Asia and Tropical Africa. It has grown in China for over 4000 years and is among the best 5 fruit trees of China. It is a thorny, long-lived woody perennial (100 or more years), densely branched shrub or small tree (up to 10 m high) with a spreading canopy up to 10 m across. Thorns are in pairs, one straight and one re-curved. It produces fleshy-fruited drupes which are high in crude protein, fibre, lipids and carbohydrates in addition to important minerals including potassium, sodium and phosphorous which are vital nutrients for pregnant and lactating women. The fruit flavour is slightly reminiscent of inferior apples. The fruit-pulp is dried into biscuit-form to sustain people during famine and travel across deserts. Fruits of Chinee apple are seriously sought in Tropical Africa if grain crops fail. Fruit juice is used for treatment of cough and leaf water-extracts as astringent whereas tree bark for treatment of dysentery, constipation and urinary problems. Internationally, Chinee apple is used to reduce soil erosion and desertification, create windbreaks and provide shade whereas leaves and stems provide highly nutritious fodder for livestock.

Chinee apple flowers between November to April and fruits between January to August. Large trees of Chinee apple produce more than 5000 fruits per year. Seeds are dispersed following ingestion by cattle, goats, antelopes, feral pigs, wallabies, bastards and other birds in addition to deliberate plantings by humans for shade or for fruit. Germination is likely to occur whenever soil moisture levels are adequate. In Tropical Africa, Chinee apple forms a breeding ground for the fruit-fly pest. Chinee apple has the capacity to sprout following damage to above-ground parts of the plant and is resilient to fire.

Chinee apple was introduced to northern Australia in 1863 and in Townsville in 1916. In many parts of the world where it has naturalised, it had the tendency to dominate the vegetation that it invaded particularly in savannah woodland environments. In areas where it forms dense thickets, it can reduce stocking rates, impede mustering and restrict stock access to water. Environmentally, it is recognised as an invasive species that has important effects on rangeland ecosystems associated with declines in native species richness as it has the potential to form a serious threat to biodiversity management and conservation.

Current options for effective control of established plants are limited to the application of herbicides and expensive mechanical [...]

By |February 17th, 2014|Invasive Weeds|0 Comments|
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Bellyache bush

Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) is one of the most toxic and aggressive weeds in the dry tropics of north Queensland. Three seeds could kill a child and dense infestations interfere with pasture growth, obscure fence lines, impede mustering, harbour feral animals, poison livestock, destroy natural landscapes, affect recreational use of natural areas and displace native vegetation. Consequently, its economic, environmental and social impacts go deep into the fabric of life. It has the potential to reduce biodiversity to nil.

Bellyache bush is native to Central America in the drier islands of the Caribbean and the Venezuelan coastline. It has been introduced as an ornamental and medicinal plant to many other tropical countries where it has since become naturalised. It is an erect, monoecious, soft-wooded, deciduous, perennial shrub growing to an average height of 2.5 m but exceeding 4 m in some areas. It is capable of reaching reproductive maturity within 55 days after germination. Flowering and seed production can occur all year round, and plants can produce up to 12 000 seeds per year. Bellyache bush predominantly infests riparian habitats but can also spread into open pastures and rocky areas in regions where rainfall ranges between 200 – 1500 mm per year.

Several biotypes with morphological, phenological, and physiological differences exist in Australia. These include Katherine Green, Queensland Bronze, Queensland Green, Darwin Purple, and Queensland Purple. The predominant biotype in Queensland is the Queensland Bronze whereas Katherine Green is the predominant biotype of the Northern territory.

Individual bellyache bush plants are easy to kill with conventional control techniques such as herbicides, machinery and fire. However, singular treatment of these methods can generate large-scale seedling recruitment the following year. Integrated control methods have the potential to reduce infestations to an acceptable level within four years.

To know more about Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) contact Dr Bebawi here.

By |February 11th, 2014|Invasive Weeds|0 Comments|
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Ammi visnaga Lam.

Our research in the next few weeks will be focused on African Plants with particular reference to Sudan and their medicinal uses and properties if known:
Family Name: Umbelliferae
Botanical Name: Ammi visnaga Lam.
Vernacular Name: Khella (Arab); Toothpick plant.
Medicinal Use: The fruit is used for colic, renal and intestinal problems.
Active Principle: Glucoside, Khellin and Visnagin.

By |November 3rd, 2013|Medicinal Plants|0 Comments|
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Digera alternifolia (L.) Aschers

Our research in the next few weeks will be focused on African Plants with particular reference to Sudan and their medicinal uses and properties if known:

Family Name: Amaranthaceae

Botanical Name: Digera alternifolia (L.) Aschers

Vernacular Name: Harayrah, Nuarah, Bebit, Lablab Ahmar (Blue Nile Province) & Asfar (Arab – Meshra El Zeraf); Anmal (Dinka – Meshra El Zeraf); Kilumtum (Shilluk – Meshra El Zeraf).

Medicinal Use: The leaves are used to cure indigestion.

Active Principle: Unknown

By |November 3rd, 2013|Medicinal Plants|0 Comments|
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Celosia argentea L.

Our research in the next few weeks will be focused on African Plants with particular reference to Sudan and their medicinal uses and properties if known:

Family Name: Amaranthaceae

Botanical Name:  Celosia argentea L.

Vernacular Name:  Danab El Keleb & Sheiba (Arab – Meshra El Zeraf).

Medicinal Use:  The seeds are a remedy for diarrhea and Roundworm – Astringent.

Active Principle:  Kosotoxin and unclassified principles.

By |November 3rd, 2013|Medicinal Plants|0 Comments|
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Achyranthus aspera L.

Our research in the next few weeks will be focused on African Plants with particular reference to Sudan and their medicinal uses and properties if known:

Family Name:    Amaranthaceae

Botanical Name:  Achyranthus aspera L.

Vernacular Name (Common Name):  Aburukab (Sennar), Danab El Abilani or Fakhah or Na’ana’a (Meshra El Zeraf), Anawidik (Khartoum), Erg El Asda and Erg El Dam (Arab – Blue Nile); Daratniuwa (Hadendowa); Eilukwate (Nuba – Dilling).

Medicinal Use:  Root chewed and is used as a styptic on cuts.  Root juice is given to women as an Oxytocic, and to children who have fever. An infusion of the root is used as an emetic for pains in the chest not due to a cough.

Active Principle: Unknown.

By |November 3rd, 2013|Medicinal Plants|0 Comments|
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Trianthema pentandra L.

Our research in the next few weeks will be focused on African Plants with particular reference to Sudan and their medicinal uses and properties if known:

Family Name : Aizoaceae

Botanical Name:  Trianthema pentandra L.

Vernacular Name (Common Name):  Rabaa & Rabah (Arab); Lom (Dinka – Kenissa).

Medicinal Use:  The plant is used as an astringent in abdominal diseases. The Sudanese mix one spoonful of pounded roots with one rotl (less than or equal to 500 ml) of Marissa and use the mixture as a remedy for gonorrhea, the doses being taken for three days.

Active Principle: Unknown.

By |November 3rd, 2013|Medicinal Plants|0 Comments|
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