02/05/2026
Dobera glabra ( Geed Gras) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of about 8–10 meters.
Its bark is smooth and ranges in color from green to greyish-brown or dark grey, often developing rectangular cracks as it matures.
Younger branches tend to have a simpler grey bark.
The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are olive-green in color.
They have a leathery texture, are slightly thickened (fleshy), and have a smooth surface.
The plant produces white, bisexual flowers that grow in clusters (panicles) at both the leaf axils and the ends of branches.
Its fruit starts off green and turns purple when fully ripe.
The surface is rough, and the fruit is shaped like a small egg, measuring roughly 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width, with a pointed tip.
Inside is a white seed covered by a sticky, red outer layer.
The species name “glabra” comes from Latin, meaning smooth or hairless.
Ecology
This species commonly grows in thorny bushlands and scrub vegetation, especially among trees like Acacia, Balanites, and Commiphora.
It is often found on rocky slopes and in salty (saline) riverbeds.
The plant is well adapted to arid and semi-arid climates across Africa and can tolerate short periods of waterlogging.
In Kenya, it is mainly distributed along the northern coast and in northern regions.
