Lessertia frutescens
(L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
Fabaceae
Colutea frutescens L.
Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br.
Common Name:
General Information
Lessertia frutescens is a prostrate to erect, deciduous shrub growing from 50 - 170cm tall[
295- Title
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308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
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- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
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- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
The plant is a popular medicinal herb in southern Africa, where it is often harvested from the wild. It is also grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its fine form, striking colour and luminous flowers[
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- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Southern Africa - Namibia, Botswana, S. Africa, Lesotho
Habitat
In low rainfall areas with low shrubs and sparse ground cover, on sandy soils, often on roadsides and disturbed areas; at elevations around 1,000 metres[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
Height | 1.20 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Pollinators | Sunbirds |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Lessertia frutescens is a plant of the warm temperate to tropical regions of southern Africa, growing mainly in semi-arid regions. It is not very cold hardy, able to tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -5°c, so long as it is growing in a freely draining soil and summers have been sufficiently warm to fully ripen the wood[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. It usually grows where there is a distinct dry season, butis found inboth summer rainfall and winter rainfall regions[
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- PlantZAfrica.com
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- http://www.plantzafrica.com
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
A tough plant that does well in full sun and tolerates all soil types[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
A fast-growing, but short-lived species[
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- PlantZAfrica.com
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- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Plants seed themselves readily, so that as the older plants start to look past their best they can be removed[
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- PlantZAfrica.com
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- http://www.plantzafrica.com
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- Year
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- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]
The fruit is a large, bladder-like, papery inflated pod and is almost transparent. It can be used in dry flower arrangements as it dries well, maintaining its colour and form[
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- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The plant is quite pest resistant[
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- http://www.plantzafrica.com
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- 0
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- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
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- PlantZAfrica.com
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- http://www.plantzafrica.com
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- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
Lessertia frutescens has a long history of herbal use in S. Africa. It is said to be a good general medicine and a useful bitter tonic, and that a little taken before meals will aid digestion and improve the appetite[
295- Title
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- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. It has become one of the most talked about medicinal herbs in the ethnobotanical world because of its strong reputation as a cure for cancer and increasingly as an immune system booster in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Research on its properties is ongoing[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
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-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
The leaves and stems have a very bitter flavour. They are anticancer, antiseptic, bitter tonic, blood purifier[
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
]. They are used mainly as an aqueous infusion or decoction, either internally or externally as an antiseptic wash, eye lotion or douche[
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
With its strong tonic effect upon the body, the plant is a useful aid in the treatment of a wide range of conditions. An infusion or decoction is taken internally in the treatment of conditions as diverse as cancer, gastric ailments, diarrhoea and dysentery, chicken pox. gynaecological problems, backache, rheumatism, oedema and fevers[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
,
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
]. It is also used to treat colds, 'flu, asthma, TB, bronchitis, liver problems, haemorrhoids, diabetes, varicose veins and inflammation[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]. It is also used in the treatment of mental and emotional stress, including irritability, anxiety and depression and is used as a gentle tranquillizer[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Externally, it is used in the treatment of eye infections, as a wash for wounds; and as a douche for prolapse of the uterus[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
,
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
Whole fruits may be chewed for the relief of stomach pains[
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
Investigations of different collections of this herb suggests that it is biochemically variable and that distinct chemical races of the species may exist in different parts of its distribution range. These may vary in potency and bioactivity[
395- Title
- Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species
- Publication
-
- Author
- Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P.
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Because they are fast and tough, they also work quite well as pioneers in a new garden, where they give cover and colour while the slower growing perennials get going[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]
Other Uses
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antimicrobial[
].
Propagation
Seed - sow in a well-drained soil in a seedtray. Germination is improved if seeds are left to soak for about 4 hours or overnight in water hot enough for you to put your hand in. Keep the seed trays warm (not hot) and damp but not wet. Germination should occur in 2 - 3 weeks and seedlings can be transplanted as soon as they are large enough to handle[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
]
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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