Ratany

White ratany Krameria grayi

Description

White ratany fruit

The root of a shrub, Krameria triandria or Krameria grayi, native to Peru. Hot-water extracts from ratany root were used for tanning leather. Ratany contains up to 40% tannins. It produces a dark brown color leather.

Synonyms and Related Terms

payta; ratany (Krameria triandria); white ratany (Krameria grayi)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Small dense shrub growing to 1 m.
• Bark = gray, split with shallow fissures.
• Leaves = narrow ovate (1 cm long) with velvety gray on top.
• Fruit=single fuzzy skinned pod covered with spikes

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 653

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005)