Acokanthera schimperi

Indigenous

Ag: Bisira Eng: Poison-arrow tree Am: Gararu, Lemem, Merenz Or: Qarachu, Qararo, Qararu Sm: Wagireadad Tg: Mebetti Wt: Ladia

Ecology Propagation Widespread in East and south to Seedlings. Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and north-eastern South Africa. In Seed it is a tree of dry woodland, thickets and Produces much seed, but germination is grasslands in Dry and Moist Weyna Dega sporadic, 400—450 seed per kg. agroclimatic zones in nearly all regions. It Treatment: Soak in cold water to prefers rich well‑drained forest soil, but also separate the fleshy part of the fruit from grows on black-cotton and poor soils in dry the seeds. areas, 1,000–2,200 m. Storage: Seed have high natural water Uses content and therefore should not be Spear shafts, medicine (infusion of the stored. roots), shade (livestock), ornamental, arrow Management poison (prepared from the white latex from Slow growing. Coppicing. roots, leaf or bark). Remarks Description Children eat the ripe purple fruit, as do A dense evergreen or small rounded tree, birds and monkeys. Fruit should only be with short bole to 5 m, sometimes 10 m. eaten when fully ripe, otherwise the is BARK: Dark brown, grooved with age, poisonous. young twigs flattened. LEAVES: Opposite, dark shiny green above, stiff and leathery, Traditionally, some families, unaware oval to rounded 4–7 cm, tip pointed and the plant is poisonous, add a pinch of sharp. FLOWERS: Appearing with early leaves into a local beer (‘Tela’ rains, in dense, fragrant clusters, almost in Amharic) to make the drink strong and stalkless, white‑pink, tubular. FRUIT: Oval clear. berries to 1.5 cm, yellow to purple.

88 | Useful Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia Photo: Patrick Maundu Photo: Patrick Maundu

The Species | 89