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Diamond-leaved Euclea

Euclea divinorum Hiern
Diamond-leaved Euclea
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Euclea divinorum, a shrub or small tree in the Ebenaceae family, is native to eastern and southern Africa. It is used for dyeing wool, tanning leather, making ink, preserving milk, and as a chewing twig for oral hygiene. It is also used for making artefacts, firewood, food, and medicinal purposes. The plant is found in open forest, often on termite mounds, and is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Description

Euclea divinorum, commonly known as diamond-leaved euclea, is a species of flowering plant in the Ebenaceae family. It is native to countries including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, and Tanzania. The plant is a shrub or small tree, often found in open forest habitats, particularly on termite mounds. It has multiple traditional uses, including as a source of dye for wool, tanning leather, and making ink. Locally, it is also used for preserving milk and as a natural toothbrush by chewing on its twigs. In the regions where it is found, it is used for making artefacts, firewood, food, and medicinal applications. Common names for the plant include diamond leaf, magic guarri, and toothbrush tree. It is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List as of 2017.

Other common names

Diamond-leaved EucleaMagic Guarri

Distribution

Global · Angola · Botswana · Burundi · Caprivi Strip · Djibouti · Ethiopia · Kenya · KwaZulu-Natal · Malawi · Mozambique · Namibia · Northern Provinces · Rwanda · Socotra · Somalia · Sudan · Swaziland · Tanzania · Uganda · Zambia · Zaïre · Zimbabwe

Synonyms

Euclea balfouriiEuclea huillensisEuclea katangensisEuclea keniensisEuclea kiwuensisEuclea laurinaEuclea stuhlmannii

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