Common Name: Cape Myrtle

General Information

Myrsine africana is a slow growing, much-branched and very leafy, evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall[].
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[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

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

Habitat

Shady places in drier oak and rhododendron forests to 2,700 metres[, ]. 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[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.75 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Myrsine africana is a plant of the drier tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 3,800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 5 - 35°c[]. Plants can tolerate several degrees of short-lived frost if they are growing in a well drained soil in a position sheltered from drying winds[]. The plant prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 800mm, but tolerates 450 - 1,000mm[].
Succeeds in any well-drained fertile circum-neutral soil in full sun or semi-shade[]. Requires a sunny position according to another report[]. Dislikes shallow chalky soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].
Plants are very slow-growing[].
The leaves are aromatic[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , , ]. The pink-purple, round fruit is about 6mm in diameter with a thin flesh surrounding a single seed[, ]. Two other reports say that the fruit is used as an anthelmintic[, ].

The seed is used as an adulterant of pepper[]. The fruit is used[].

Medicinal

The fruit is used as an anthelmintic, especially in the treatment of tape worm[, , , ]. It is also laxative and is used in the treatment of dropsy and colic[]. The fruit contains 3% embelic acid and 1% quercitol, the seed contains 4.8% embelic acid and 1% quercitol[]. These are the active ingredients that work as an anthelmintic[].

A gum obtained from the plant is used as a warming remedy in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea[].

A decoction of the leaf is used as a blood purifier[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are used for hedging in warm temperate to tropical zones[].

Other Uses

The plant is used in technology[]. This report gives no more details, we assume that it refers to the wood being used.

The wood is hard[]. It is used for withies[].
The wood is used for fuel[]. It burns quickly, even when green, because of its glandular leaves[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a semi-shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter[]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3 - 6cm long with a heel in individual pots, mid summer in a frame. Good percentage[].