Rhamnaceae FAMILY

Rhamnus lycioides

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Species in this genus contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives which have a stimulant laxative effect upon the body, and many species are used traditionally as laxatives. In small doses, and for short periods, these can be safe and effective, but used over long periods they can weaken the body's natural ability to defecate and can have a range of long-lasting negative effects upon the body, including anaemia, malabsorption, haematuria and weight loss. Large single doses can cause severe purging.

Botanical Description

Rhamnus lycioides is a much-branched, erect to prostrate, spiny, evergreen shrub; it usually grows from 10 - 200cm tall, occasionally reaching 300cm. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a dye and medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeMost of the Mediterranean regions of Europe, Africa and Western Asia, excluding mainland Italy and much of the Balkans,

HabitatDry stony places[ 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ]. Thickets, fissures and ledges of rocky slopes, stony soils, hedges, borders and clearings of woods, usually in basic substrate[ 1548 Title Flora Iberica Publication Author Website http://www.floraiberica.es Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Published in book form, the treatments of the various species have also been released on-line in PDF format. Records entered here are all from the on-line PDFs. ].