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Distribution
This species is found in the northeastern part of southern Africa, from Zimbabwe in
the north, down to the Eastern Cape in the south, with a thin line following the
Orange River westward. This is a riverine species occurring alongside rivers or away
from rivers where sufficient groundwater is available. It is found at almost all altitudes
and can, therefore, tolerate a fair amount of climatic variation and diverse soils, such
as heavy black loam, sandy riverine alluvium and granite sand (Le Roux, 2003).
Conservation status
No information on its conservation status was found.
Medicinal uses
The roots, which are regarded as poisonous, are used as a purgative and to treat
venereal diseases (Van Wyk et al. 2000).
Data from ethnobotanical survey
The bark is mixed with other herbs (unknown) to make a decoction that is drunk in
the morning and evening, quarter of a cup for sores (Buthelezi 2007, pers. comm.).
Chemical content
The leaves yield seven flavonoids, four of these were identified as flavonols and
three were identified as flavones. Six of these flavonoids were being reported for the
first time (kaempferol, rhamnocotrin, rhamnazin, quiercetin-5, 3’ dimethylether,
genkwanin and 5- hydroxyl-4’, 7- dimethoxyflavone) (Le Roux, 2003).
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