Ehretia alba is a semi-deciduous shrub or small tree up to 4m high, growing in Namibia, Botswana and the western, drier regions of South Africa, and was first collected by Hermann Merxmüller at Breitenberg in the Gobabis district of Namibia. As with other species of Ehretia it is twiggy with rigid branches, its fascicled leaves showing a large variation in size (6-25 x 3-13 mm), with acute or obtuse apices, and appressed setae along margins. Midribs and secondary veins are prominent on the lower surfaces, while the petioles are only 3 mm long. Leaves are generally clustered or fascicled on abbreviated twigs. Flowers are fragrant and white to cream, while unopened buds are mauve.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Puzzlebush being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Ehretia rigida
- Sideroxylon occidentale
- Gymnosporia maranguensis
- Ehretia obtusifolia
- Gymnosporia buxifolia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Boraginales
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Ehretia
- Species
- Ehretia alba
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