Pachycarpus natalensis, the Natal thickfruit

Pachycarpus natalensis becomes from 30 cm to 52 cm tall, growing among rocks on the grassy Drakensberg slopes. In habitat they often face grass fires in winter. Plant parts are collected for traditional medicines relating to stomach disorders.

There is a practice of sprinkling a leaf infusion on eggs in farmyard poultry nests to discourage dogs from eating them. This may work in the case of clever dogs not desperately fond of eggs and remembering how sick they became last time. The memory-challenged farmyard special or the chronically hungry mutt may get sick every time, maybe receive a hiding too. Fast learning is not for everyone (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).