Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C. Johnst.
Rhamnus thea Osbeck
Eng.: Pauper’s Tea. Ara.: Oronteel.
Shrub, unarmed, 1-2 m in height. Branches opposite. Leaves (1-2 × 0.5-1 cm) opposite, from ovate to broadly elliptic or orbicular, rounded or obtuse apex, with denticulate margin, conspicuous veins, glabrous, bright green on both sides. Petiole short, with small caducous stipules. Inflorescence in panicles of numerous short spikes. Calyx with 5 sepals, disc shaped like a 5-angled cup; petals 5, yellow, with rounded apex. Fruit a subglobose drupe, 3-4 mm in diameter, blackish. Seeds elongated, smooth
Flowering:
March to May.
Fruiting:
June to September.
Habitat:
On diverse terrains, in arid to semiarid bioclimate. In arid bioclimates it grows at high altitude, in shadier and wetter areas.
Distribution:
Egypt (Sinai Peninsula, mountains near St. Catherine), Arabia, Turkey, N Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan.
Conservation status:
Rare species with a small distribution area. In Egypt, it is a particularly rare species. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the Red List of vascular plants of Egypt (Flora Aegyptiaca Vol 1, 2000) it is listed as “Endangered”.