Family Santalaceae
Distribution and habitatOsyris lanceolata occurs
naturally on rocky outcrops and mountain slopes in bushveld, wooded grassland,
woodland and on the margins of forests, from the Eastern Cape northwards through
the eastern half of South Africa to central Africa.
Uses and cultural aspectsThis
Osyris has a hard
and durable wood which is used for timber, firewood, and utensils (pestles). The
bark was used by early inhabitants of the Cape for tanning leather, while the
root produces a strong red dye. The root fibres are mostly used in basketry.
Roots and bark are used for tea and as a tonic in soup. Ripe fruits are eaten
raw, with the seed discarded, but only as an emergency food for herdsmen.
Traditionally various Kenyan communities used
Osyris lanceolata to
preserve milk in gourds for long periods. The root decoction is used to treat
diarrhoea in Kenya. A decoction of the bark and heartwood is used to treat some
sexually transmitted diseases and anaemia in Tanzania. Extracts from the plant
are said to cure certain diseases, including Hepatitis B. Roots and wood are
scented and used to make cosmetics and perfume.
EcologyThe rock tannin-bush is the larval food plant for
the dotted border butterfly,
Mylothris chloris agathina, and is
utilized by many beetles, but no serious damage has ever been reported. It is
commonly said to be a partial root parasite, growing on the roots of other
plants and utilizing the root system of these hosts, but it produces its own
chlorophyll. This shrub is usually intimately associated with shrubs of woody
species, especially species such as
Grewia flavescens, Burkea africana and
Combretum
molle.
Info: http://www.plantzafrica.com
