HERBS
Cape honeysuckle, Tecoma capensis
Kaapse kanferfoelie
Cape honeysuckle is a fast growing, scrambling shrub until recently known as Tecomaria capensis. Tecoma capensis is an evergreen plant in warm climate areas but loses its leaves in colder areas. It has pinnately compound leaves that have oval leaflets with blunt teeth. Flowering time for this shrub is very erratic and often it flowers all year round. Flowers vary from red, deep orange, yellow to salmon. Flowers are tubular and bird pollinated, attracting nectar-feeding birds, especially sunbirds. It is often planted specifically to attract birds and butterflies. The powdered bark of this attractive garden plant is used as a traditional medicine to relieve pain and sleeplessness. Breastfeeding mothers traditionally make a necklace from pieces of stems to ensure that they have enough milk to breast feed.
Aloe africana
Krui aalwyn
Aloe africana is a solitary plant, bearing an erect stem up to 2 m high (exceptionally up to 4 m), with a skirt of dry leaves. Its leaves are crowded in a dense rosette, with its margins armed with small, reddish teeth. Its beautiful tubular flowers are up to 55 mm long and curved. Its winged seeds are formed in capsules and dispersed by wind. Flowering time is from winter to early spring (July to September in South Africa). Aloe africana is restricted to the south-eastern part of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape, and is particularly common near Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and the lower Gamtoos River. It is mainly confined to hills and flats, growing in thicket and renosterveld vegetation. It often grows in association with Aloe ferox, A. pluridens and A. speciosa. Finely grounded leaves are used with traditional tobacco, ‘snuif’, and the bitter sap is used to wean babies and calves. The ash of dried burned leaves is used as insect repellent in grain reserves.
Wild garlic, Tulbaghia violacea
Wilde knoffel
Tulbaghia violacea is a fast-growing, bulbous plant that reaches a height of 0.5 m. The leaves are long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy and smell strongly of garlic when bruised. They grow from fat, tuberous roots which spread to form clumps of plants. The pink-purple tubular flowers are held above the leaves on a tall flower stalk, and appear over a long period in summer (January to April). They too smell of garlic when picked. The fruit, triangular capsules, are grouped into a head, and when ripe they split to release the flattened, hard black seeds. Tulbaghia is named after Ryk Tulbagh (died 1771), governor of the Cape of Good Hope and violacea means violet-coloured. Most of the species of Tulbaghia are adapted for moth pollination and have dull flowers that become sweetly scented at night. T. violacea seems likely to be pollinated by butterflies and bees as they are scented during the day. The crushed leaves may be used to help cure sinus headaches and to discourage moles from the garden (by their strong smell). The smell repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes when crushed on the skin. The bulb has been used as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and to destroy intestinal worms. Traditionally it can be used to make an aphrodisiac medicine. Wild garlic is also used as a very good snake repellent and for this reason the Zulus plant it around their homes.
Kaapse kanferfoelie
Cape honeysuckle is a fast growing, scrambling shrub until recently known as Tecomaria capensis. Tecoma capensis is an evergreen plant in warm climate areas but loses its leaves in colder areas. It has pinnately compound leaves that have oval leaflets with blunt teeth. Flowering time for this shrub is very erratic and often it flowers all year round. Flowers vary from red, deep orange, yellow to salmon. Flowers are tubular and bird pollinated, attracting nectar-feeding birds, especially sunbirds. It is often planted specifically to attract birds and butterflies. The powdered bark of this attractive garden plant is used as a traditional medicine to relieve pain and sleeplessness. Breastfeeding mothers traditionally make a necklace from pieces of stems to ensure that they have enough milk to breast feed.
Aloe africana
Krui aalwyn
Aloe africana is a solitary plant, bearing an erect stem up to 2 m high (exceptionally up to 4 m), with a skirt of dry leaves. Its leaves are crowded in a dense rosette, with its margins armed with small, reddish teeth. Its beautiful tubular flowers are up to 55 mm long and curved. Its winged seeds are formed in capsules and dispersed by wind. Flowering time is from winter to early spring (July to September in South Africa). Aloe africana is restricted to the south-eastern part of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape, and is particularly common near Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and the lower Gamtoos River. It is mainly confined to hills and flats, growing in thicket and renosterveld vegetation. It often grows in association with Aloe ferox, A. pluridens and A. speciosa. Finely grounded leaves are used with traditional tobacco, ‘snuif’, and the bitter sap is used to wean babies and calves. The ash of dried burned leaves is used as insect repellent in grain reserves.
Wild garlic, Tulbaghia violacea
Wilde knoffel
Tulbaghia violacea is a fast-growing, bulbous plant that reaches a height of 0.5 m. The leaves are long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy and smell strongly of garlic when bruised. They grow from fat, tuberous roots which spread to form clumps of plants. The pink-purple tubular flowers are held above the leaves on a tall flower stalk, and appear over a long period in summer (January to April). They too smell of garlic when picked. The fruit, triangular capsules, are grouped into a head, and when ripe they split to release the flattened, hard black seeds. Tulbaghia is named after Ryk Tulbagh (died 1771), governor of the Cape of Good Hope and violacea means violet-coloured. Most of the species of Tulbaghia are adapted for moth pollination and have dull flowers that become sweetly scented at night. T. violacea seems likely to be pollinated by butterflies and bees as they are scented during the day. The crushed leaves may be used to help cure sinus headaches and to discourage moles from the garden (by their strong smell). The smell repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes when crushed on the skin. The bulb has been used as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and to destroy intestinal worms. Traditionally it can be used to make an aphrodisiac medicine. Wild garlic is also used as a very good snake repellent and for this reason the Zulus plant it around their homes.