Harrisonia abyssinica

Harrisonia abyssinica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Subfamily:	Cneoroideae
Genus:	Harrisonia
Species:	H. abyssinica
Binomial name
Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv.
Synonyms
Clausena impunctata Welw. ex Hiern Ebelingia abyssinica (Oliv.) Kuntze Ebelingia occidentalis (Engl.) Kuntze Fagara guineensis (Stapf) De Wild. Harrisonia occidentalis Engl. Zanthoxylum guineense Stapf

Harrisonia abyssinica is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rutaceae. Native to Tropical Africa, its habitat is usually in transitional zones between deciduous woodlands and evergreen forest. ^[2]

Description

Harrisonia abyssinica grows up to 6 m (20 ft) tall with spines up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long on outgrowths on the branches. ^[3] It flowers from August to November with white to yellow petals. ^[4] The fruits are red to black, 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) in diameter and edible. ^[5]

Medicinal properties

The roots and bark from the stem are used to treat gonorrhoea, dysentery and tuberculosis as well as an ascaricide. ^[6]

References

1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (2020). "Harrisonia abyssinica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T153941948A153941950. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T153941948A153941950.en . Retrieved 7 December 2025.
2. "Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Harrisonia abyssinica". www.mozambiqueflora.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
3. "Harrisonia abyssinica". Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
4. "Harrisonia abyssinica Oliv". Zambia Flora. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
5. "Compilation Harrisonia abyssinica". JSTOR . Retrieved 30 December 2019.
6. Baldé, A.; Pieters, L.; De Bruyne, T.; Geerts, S.; Vanden Berghe, D.; Vlietinck, A. (1995). "Biological investigations on Harrisonia abyssinica". Phytomedicine . 1 (4): 299–302. doi:10.1016/S0944-7113(11)80006-1. PMID   23196018.