Euclea racemosa

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Euclea racemosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Euclea
Species:
E. racemosa
Binomial name
Euclea racemosa
L.

Euclea racemosa (the sea guarrie or dune guarrie) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree that is indigenous to the Indian Ocean coast of Africa from Egypt to South Africa, as well as in Comoros, Oman and Yemen.[1]

Euclea racemosa has leathery foliage that can be exceptionally even and dense - making it an ideal plant for hedges. A

dioecious tree (male and female flowers on separate trees), it produces small white flowers, which are followed by red, purple and black fruits that attract birds
.
The berries are used locally to make "Guarrie vinegar".
[2]

The name guarrie appears to derive from the local Khoe language, in which it is spelled gwarri.

Pictures

  • Detail of inflorescence.
    Detail of inflorescence.
  • The characteristic multi-coloured berries of the Sea Guarrie tree.
    The characteristic multi-coloured berries of the Sea Guarrie tree.
  • Detail of berries.
    Detail of berries.
  • Euclea racemosa used for roadside hedging.
    Euclea racemosa used for roadside hedging.
  • Rough Euclea racemosa hedging. Cape Town.
    Rough Euclea racemosa hedging. Cape Town.

Classification

subspecies[1]
  1. Euclea racemosa subsp. bernardii F.White - Cape Province
  2. Euclea racemosa subsp. daphnoides (Hiern) F.White - Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, Mpumalanga, Limpopo
  3. Euclea racemosa subsp. macrophylla (E.Mey. ex A.DC.) F.White - Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal
  4. Euclea racemosa subsp. racemosa - Cape Province
  5. Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi (A.DC.) F.White - most of species range
  6. Euclea racemosa subsp. sinuata F.White - Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal
  7. Euclea racemosa subsp. zuluensis F.White - Eswatini, Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal

References

  1. ^ a b "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". apps.kew.org. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  2. ^ "The Sea Guarrie Tree - Euclea racemosa". www.healingorchids.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.