Category: Herbs & Plants

General Name: Sargassum
Family: Sargassaceae
Kingdom: Chromista
Phylum: Ochrophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Fucales
Genus: Sargassum

Other Names: Sargassum was named by the Portuguese sailors who found it in the Sargasso Sea. They called it after the wooly rock rose (Halimium lasianthum) that grew in their water wells at home, and that was called sargaço in Portuguese (Portuguese pronunciation: [s????asu]) – from the Latin salicastrum.

Habnitat: Sargassum shows a diplontic life cycle without any alternation of generations. They grow in a warm sea of temperate regions.

Description:
Sargassum is a species of this genus of algae may grow to a length of several metres. They are generally brown or dark green in color and consist of a holdfast, a stipe, and a frond. Oogonia and antheridia occur in conceptacles embedded in receptacles on special branches. Some species have berrylike gas-filled bladders that help the fronds float to promote photosynthesis. Many have a rough, sticky texture that, along with a robust but flexible body, help them withstand strong water currents.

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How Sargassum grows: As the Sargassum are brown-green algae, they enable photosynthesis through sunlight and convert light energy into chemical energy. which helps in the formation of glucose. These seaweed’s glucose will stay as the building block for its carbohydrates.

Edible Uses:
Sargassum seaweed is a nutritious food rich in carotenoids, cellulose, protein, and aspartic and glutamic acids. Sargassum seaweed contains polysaccharies, which support healthy bloody pressure and blood sugar. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
As Asian countries have the most experience with eating seaweed, most of the approaches have an Oriental spin. Some Sargassums are consumed fresh, others cooked in coconut milk or a little vinegar or lemon juice. It is smoked-dried to preserve it. Sargassum is also eaten by itself or added to fish and meat dishes. They are used in several ways for example, in preparation of jellies, ice cream, and other desserts.

Medicinal Uses:
*Supports in blood pressure: Some species of sargassum helps in maintaining the blood pressure of the body. …
*Supports thyroid health: Sargassum is rich in iodine, thus it helps in maintaining thyroid gland of the body. …
*Anti-cancer health: Sargassum also helps in controlling cancer. …
*Acts as anti-coagulant property: It also helps in preventing coagulation as it helps in stopping blood from clotting.

Other Uses:
Source of agar: Sargassum is used for making agar which is obtained from several species. It can be also used for purifying liquids and in textile sizing. We can also use agar in preparing cosmetics, shoe polishes, shaving creams.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargassum

Botanical Name: Salvia africana
Family: Lamiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. africana

Common Names: Golden sage, Beach sage, Dune sage, Sand sage (Eng.); Bruinsalie, Sandsalie, Strandsalie, Geelblomsalie (Afr.)

Habitat: Salvia africana is native to the coast of the Cape Provinces of South Africa found on coastal dunes and in nearby rocky hills up to 600 m elevation.

Descriiption:
Salvia africana is a soft, greyish, hairy, much-branched shrub up to 2 m tall. The leaves are greenish on the upper surface, covered with grey hairs and dotted with glands on the lower surface, strongly aromatic, simple, opposite, obovate (egg-shaped but broader towards the tip) and sometimes toothed.
Flowers are produced from midwinter to midsummer (June to January) peaking in spring to early summer (Aug.-Dec.), in whorls, crowded at the tips of the stems. The corolla is two-lipped, the lips roughly equal in length; the upper lip is blue to bluish-purple or pinkish and hooded; the lower one is usually white in the centre with darker spots, and is turned down at the edge, giving the impression of a gaping mouth.

Flowers are produced from midwinter to midsummer (June to January) peaking in spring to early summer (Aug.-Dec.), in whorls, crowded at the tips of the stems. The corolla is two-lipped, the lips roughly equal in length; the upper lip is blue to bluish-purple or pinkish and hooded; the lower one is usually white in the centre with darker spots, and is turned down at the edge, giving the impression of a gaping mouth.

The style is long, slender and curved, and sticks out beyond the hooded upper lip. The stamens are strangely shaped. The filament of each stamen is attached to one side of the lower part of the corolla tube. A cross-piece that is hinged so that it can move up and down is attached at the top end of the filament. This cross-piece carries the anther at one end and a ‘pedal’ at the other.

The ‘pedal’ is in fact the other half of the anther, transformed into a structure that a visiting bee has to press on as it probes for nectar, causing the hinged anther to move down and deposit pollen on the back of the bee. The calyx is funnel-shaped, dotted with glands and covered in long, silky grey hairs, green with pinkish purple tips. It persists long after the flower has dropped and enlarges at the fruiting stage, becoming thin, light and papery by the time the seeds are mature.
The fruit consists of four 1-seeded, small, rounded nutlets that are formed at the base of the flower, inside the calyx. They remain attached at the base of the calyx after the flower drops, falling out when mature.

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Cultivation:
Salvia africana is easy to grow and a rewarding garden shrub, adding texture, contrast and colour to the garden. Grow it in full sun in well-drained soil. Water well until it is established but take care not to over-water, as, like most sages, it does not like to be waterlogged. Cut back after flowering to keep it neat and vigorous, and it will bloom nearly all year round. It can be grown in low rainfall areas and is a good choice for the water-wise and fynbos garden and is a must for the herb garden. It tolerates frost (-1 to -5 o C/20 to 30 o F) and does well on the Highveld.

Propagation:
Propagate Salvia africana by seed or cuttings. Cuttings give the best results. Cuttings from new growth near the base of the plant taken in spring or early summer root very easily. The newly rooted plants respond well to regular feeding with an organic fertilizer.
Seed can be sown in autumn or spring to early summer. Use well-drained soil and keep moist. As soon as the seedlings are strong enough to handle, transfer them to a single pot. After a few more weeks they are ready for planting into the garden. The seedlings respond well to organic fertilizer and pinching the tips will encourage bushy, vigorous growth and more flowers.

Edible Uses:
The leaves are excellent herbs traditionally used by the locals as spices to be added to pasta, roasts and stew.

Medicinal Uses:
Many African salvias, including Salvia africana have long been used by the people of Africa as medicinal plants and to flavour food. A remedy made by mixing S. africana tea with Epsom salts and lemon juice was used by the early settlers in South Africa to treat stomach troubles, including colic, diarrhoea, flatulence, heartburn, gripes and indigestion.
It was also given to cows after calving to help in the expulsion of the placenta. The Khoisan people used S. africana to treat coughs, colds and women’s ailments. The leaves, mixed with those of Ballota africana (kattekruie) were also used to treat fevers and measles.
Margaret Roberts recipe for sage tea is to pour one cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of fresh leaves, allow to draw for 5 minutes, sweeten with honey and add a slice of lemon for taste. To ease a cough, including whooping cough, sip a little frequently. To treat colds, flu and chest ailments and for painful or excessive menstruation, drink half a cup four times a day.
The tea is also an excellent gargle for sore throats and night coughing. Even chewing a fresh leaf will ease a sore throat and help restore a lost voice. This tea can also be used externally as a mildly antiseptic wash. A stronger brew using one tablespoon of fresh leaves chopped into one tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of lemon juice makes a soothing cough mixture for a persistent cough: take one tablespoon every half hour until the cough eases..

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_africana
http://pza.sanbi.org/salvia-africana

Botanical Name: Carpobrotus edulis
Family: Aizoaceae
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Genus: Carpobrotus
Species: C. edulis

Synonyms: Mesembryanthemum edule L

Common Names: Hottentot-fig, Sour fig, ice plant or Highway ice plant.

Habitat: Carpobrotus edulis is native to South Africa. It grows on coastal and inland slopes in South Africa from Namaqualand in the Northern Cape through the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape. It is often seen as a pioneer on disturbed sites.

Description:
Carpobrotus edulis is a creeping, mat-forming succulent species. It grows year round, with individual shoot segments growing more than 1 m (3 ft) per year. It can grow to at least 50 m (165 ft) in diameter. The leaves are a dull-green or yellow-green colour. They are only very slightly curved and have serrated sides near the tips.

The yellow flowers are produced from April to October, and range from 6.4 to 15.2 centimetres (2+1/2 to 6 inches) in diameter. Two of the calyx lobes are longer, extending further than the petals. The flowers open in the morning in bright sunlight and close at night. The receptacle is somewhat wedge-shaped, tapering down to the pedicel. The fruit is multi-chambered, ripening from green to yellow.

The species is easily confused with its close relatives, including the more diminutive and less aggressive Carpobrotus chilensis (sea fig), with which it hybridizes readily. C. edulis can, however, be distinguished from most of its relatives by the size and yellow colour of its flowers. The smaller flowers of C. chilensis, 3.8 to 6.4 cm (1+1/2 to 2+1/2 in) in diameter, are deep magenta.

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Cultivation:
It needs well-drained soil, a sunny position, and room to spread. It is an excellent evergreen, drought- and wind-resistant groundcover; it can be planted on flat, sandy ground, on loose sand dunes, lime-rich and brackish soils, and gravelly gardens, as well as in containers, rockeries, and embankments, and will cascade over terrace walls.

Propagation: Carpobrotus edulis roots easily from cuttings. Take 200-300 mm long tip cuttings during the summer. No rooting hormone or mist unit is required, either plant them where they are intended to grow or directly into a container filled with well-drained potting soil. Seed can be sown in spring, early summer or autumn.

Edible Uses:
The fruit is edible (as with some other members of the family Aizoaceae), as are its leaves. In South Africa the sour fig’s ripe fruit are gathered and either eaten fresh or made into a very tart jam.

Medicinal Uses:
The different parts of C. edulis are used in different forms in traditional medicine, mainly in South Africa. Mostly, the fruits and flowers are eaten raw or cooked for fungal and bacterial infections. The leaves can be ingested orally for digestive problems or the juice can be sucked out to help a sore throat. The juice can also be mixed into a lotion base and used for external issues such as ringworm, bruises, sunburns, and cracked lips.
The leaf juice is astringent and mildly antiseptic. It is mixed with water and swallowed to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and stomach cramps, and is used as a gargle to relieve laryngitis, sore throat and mouth infections. Chewing a leaf tip and swallowing the juice is enough to ease a sore throat.

Other Uses:
Agroforestry Uses:
Species in this genus have a vigorous, prostrate growth habit, producing a dense carpet of foliage and making a very effective ground cover. They can be planted in maritime areas, especially in Mediterranean climates, in order to prevent soil erosion in sandy soils, dunes and on banks.
The plant has very fleshy leaves and is moderately fire-resistant. It can be used in barrier plantings to prevent the spread of forest fires.
The dried leaves contain about 19.4% tannin and the dry stems 14.2%. Yields of 1,700 kilos per hectare of cultivated plants have been achieved
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpobrotus_edulis
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Carpobrotus+edulis

Botanical Name: Jasminium multipartitum
Family: Oleaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Genus: Jasminum
Species:J. multipartitum

Synonyms:
*Jasminum glaucum var. parviflorum E.Mey.
*Jasminum oleicarpum Baker

Common Names: Wild jasmine, African jasmine, or Imfohlafohlane,Starry Wild jasmine, starry wild jasmine (Eng.); Sterretjies-jasmyn (Afr.); Imfohlafohlane (Zulu)

Habitat: Jasminium multipartitum is native to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa, Starry Wild Jasmine is naturally found in the woodlands of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal, as well as inland as far as Johannesburg. It grows on rocky slopes in bushveld or scrub.

Description:
asminium multipartitum is a large, scrambling, mostly evergreen plant that makes a fine show in the garden. If encouraged, it will climb up to 3 m, although not very strongly, and is best used as a shrub of up to 1.5 m high. It is medium- to fast-growing. Bright green, rather shiny leaves form an attractive background to the star-shaped, fragrant flowers. Closed flower buds are pink- or red-tinted. The corolla lobes of the large, single flowers are pure white when open, and the corolla tubes are coloured pink/maroon. The relatively large (40 mm across) flowers are borne in profusion from early spring to summer, August to January. They have a delicate perfume during the day that becomes markedly stronger in the evening and at night. The fruit consists of twin berries, although sometimes only one develops. They are shiny green until fully grown and then turn to a shiny, bluish-black colour. There is usually one quite large seed in each berry, and the dark, plum-coloured flesh is very juicy.

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Cultivation:
Perfect for a conservatory, sun room or ornamental greenhouse, tender Jasminum multipartitum is more of a shrub than a climber, bearing large, star-shaped white blooms in contrast to glossy, dark green leaves. Delicately fragranced, its scent becomes more potent in the evening.
For best results, grow Jasminum multipartitum in well-drained, loam-based compost in a well-lit spot out of direct sunlight, which could cause scorching on the leaves. Water regularly in summer and sparingly in winter. Cut back after flowering.

Plant in a prepared hole in a well-drained, shaded part of the garden. It tolerates a variety of soils, but the addition of well rotted organic material will produce superior results. Over-watering can cause the plants to die off. The plant takes well to pruning, either to shape it as desired, or to curb excessive growth. This is best done after flowering. Tip off the growing ends regularly to encourage thick, compact growth

Propagation:
Propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings made in spring and summer when plants are actively growing. Cuttings do best placed under mist with bottom heat and improve if rooting hormone is used. Seed

Edible Uses:
Used traditionally as a love charm and to make a herbal tea, fragrance baths and pot-pourri,.

Meditional Uses:
Jasminium multipartitum is used for liver disease (hepatitis), pain due to liver scarring (cirrhosis), and abdominal pain due to severe diarrhea (dysentery). It is also used to prevent stroke, to cause relaxation (as a sedative), to heighten sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and in cancer treatment.

Other Uses:
*Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects
*Attracts Birds
*Boundary
*Container
*Filler
*Hedge
*Rock Garden
*Screen
*Stabilize Banks
*Suitable for coastal gardens
*Suitable for smaller gardens
*Wild Garden

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/jasminum-multipartitum/
http://pza.sanbi.org/jasminum-multipartitum

Botanical Name: Tulbaghia violecae
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales
Genus: Tulbaghia
Species: T. violacea

Common Names: Pink agapanthus, Wild garlic, Sweet garlic, Spring bulbs, or Spring flowers.

Habitat: Tulbaghia violecae is native to southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Province), and reportedly naturalized in Tanzania and Mexico. These species inhabit rocky grasslands and stream banks in semi-desert to boggy areas.

Description:
Tulbaghia violecae is a clump-forming perennial flowering plant with narrow strap-like grey-green leaves and large clusters of fragrant, violet flowers from midsummer to autumn (fall). It grows up to 60 cm (24 in) tall by 25 cm (10 in) wide. The leaves and rootstocks have a strong garlic smell when bruised,

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Cultivation:
When grown as an ornamental, this plant requires some protection from winter frosts. This species and the cultivars ‘Purple Eye’ and ‘Silver Lace’, with cream-margined leaves, have all gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Treatment of seeds with a smoke solution has been shown to increase the leaf mass and height of T. violacea seedlings. Seeds exposed to aerosol smoke was also shown to lead to a higher seedling survival percentage.

Propagation: Through seeds.

Edible Uses:
Tulbaghia violacea leaves are eaten as a substitute for chives and garlic. In South Africa, Zulu people eat the leaves and flowers as a leaf vegetable like spinach or for seasoning meat and potatoes.

Medicinal Uses:
Tulbaghia violacea is used locally as a herbal remedy/medicine to treat several ailments.Due to increasing evidence of its potential as an antifungal agent, large-scale commercialization is anticipated. However, this may make the Tulbaghia genus threatened as it is susceptible to overuse.

Other Uses:
*The flowers attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects.
*Discourages snakes because they dislike the smell.
*Plant around roses and vegetable gardens because the smell can also repel aphids.
*Tulbaghia is a very hardy plant and can withstand drought and bitter cold making it an ideal addition to a low maintenance garden.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulbaghia_violacea
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Other+uses++of+Tulbaghia+violecae+plant&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=other+uses+of+tulbaghia+violecae+plant&sc=8-38&sk=&cvid=66BFFFFEAA064BC69C4D85E0901AF95A&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=