Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle

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White-Berry Bush
Common Bushweed

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "This is one of the small group of trees and shrubs growing in the monsoon affected mountains that come into flower at the end of the hot dry season [J: kud]. This season of peak summer heat is called [J: kolb], and it is explained that certain trees 'burst' into leaf and flower at this time as a direct result of the oppresive heat, compared to the custom of the traditional vaginal stimulation of cattle to encourage them to let down their milk [J: nifx]. This summer leaf growth (also called J: koleb, DA: bugweh) is delicate and reddish-coloured, and is a feature also of Olea europaea, Allophylus rubifolius, Euclea schimperi, Pavetta longiflora and Anogeissus dhofarica. This end of summer burst of growth also occurs in the various fig species, but this is a bright and light green and is called ... J: forg. In the following (star) season - [J: sol] - the first rains of the monsoon fall, and the flowers drops. The flowers of all these trees are an important bee forage at time when there is little else in flower, and the dark honey from Flueggea virosa is especially highly thought of. The foliage of this tree is a popular fodder, and was especially liked by camels. The small green fruit are also browsed by livestock, but were not eaten by people. The tree produces long smooth branches with few knots [J: kilhit, kizhit] and these strong, straight branches were much in demand for building purposes, both as roofing struts and as stakes to support the brushwood fencing of the enclosures and pens or of the circular grass huts, common in some parts of Dhofar in earlier times, whose walls were made of tall sheaves of hay. The wood splits in time, however, so it was used more in the making of seasonal shelters rather than the more permanent ones. The wood is strong and close-grained, and the straight branches were also good for making into various implements, such as the spear shafts (for use in earlier times as weapons as well as for fishing), crutches, bows and arrows, the tripod frame (on which clothing and bedding was fumigated or laid to dry out during the wet season), the three-legged support from which the milk-skin was suspended during the butter-making process, and various other staffs and crooks used by herders in their daily life. The wood also made excellent firewood and was considered as coming second only to the wood of Premna resinosa in providing brilliant illumination for the night-time fires. However, the chief importance of the tree probably lay in its being among the first to reliably come into leaf at an otherwise bare time, and which provided a good and nutritious fodder". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "The flowers are visited by honey bees and yield a much preferred dark honey. The wood has been used traditionally as building material for livestock enclosures". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol.2).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org