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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Duck bush


















I found an interesting plant growing against the wall of the old farmhouse mentioned in my 'Collared' post -
Sutherlandia frutescens  or duck bush, which the interweb tells me is regarded as the most profound and multi-purpose of the medicinal plants in Southern Africa. Because of its efficacy as a safe tonic for diverse health conditions it has enjoyed a long history of use by all cultures in Southern Africa.
The farmer had some seeds in an old film canister and gave them to me. I'll sow them this afternoon. My interest in the plant is because of its family - it's a legume and I'm on the look out for interesting nitrogen fixing plants like these to boost the N levels in my soil without having to apply fertilizer.The duck bush is a very attractive plant and looks much like a kaka beak.
It remains to be seen if it is on the pest plants register.
I'd best check!

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