Primulaceae FAMILY

Myrsine africana

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Myrsine africana is a slow growing, much-branched and very leafy, evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ]. The plant has a variety of minor uses and is harvested from the wild for local use. It is also often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to make a low, dense hedge[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeEastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Somalia to Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique; through Arabia, Afghanistan to Pakistan, India and China.

HabitatShady places in drier oak and rhododendron forests to 2,700 metres[ 146 Title A Manual of Indian Timbers. Publication Author Gamble. J. S. Publisher Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Year 1972 ISBN - Description First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader. , 158 Title Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Publication Author Gupta. B. L. Publisher Forest Research Institute Press Year 1945 ISBN - Description A good flora for the middle Himalayan forests, sparsly illustrated. Not really for the casual reader. ]. Upland forest edges, open wooded grassland, stony hillsides in grassland and pasture, sometimes riverine on sandy soil, volcanic soil or lava, 1,200 - 3,600 metres[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ].