Salvadora persica
Salvadoraceae FAMILY

Salvadora persica

Salvadora persica

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Mustard tree is an attractive, evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading, dense crown; it can grow 6 - 7 metres tall. The short bole branches freely from low down. The plant has small, bell-shaped flowers followed by aromatic fruits[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. , 774 Title Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses. Publication Author von Maydell H. Publisher Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany Year 1990 ISBN 3-8236-1198-4 Description A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses. ]. A very useful, multipurpose tree, usually harvested from the wild, and providing food, medicines and various commodities for the local populace. The seeds are rich in volatile mustard oils and it is believed that this is the plant referred to in the Biblical parable of the mustard seed[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. The tree is possibly planted in shelter-belts and more recently it has been cultivated in Africa for toothpaste ingredients[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. It is often grown as an ornamental in the tropics[ 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

Origintropical
Native RangeTropical Africa; through Arabia to India and Sri Lanka.
HabitatIn dry areas in coastal or riverine scrub on saline, sandy or alluvial soils[ 308 Title Flora Zambesiaca Publication Author Website http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants. ]. Often found in seasonally flooded areas[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].