Dicerocaryum senecioides

Dicerocaryum senecioides, commonly the devil thorn and in Afrikaans elandsdoring (eland thorn), is a prostrate perennial growing branches to 1 m long.

The opposite, stalked leaves are ovate and deeply, unevenly lobed. The leaf midrib and lateral veins into the lobes are sunken on the slightly glossy upper surface. The lower leaf surface is powdery white. Leaves become about 3 cm in diameter.

The species is distributed in South Africa in al the provinces north of the Vaal River as well as in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It also grows in neighbouring countries including Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. The photo was taken in Limpopo.

The habitat is grassland and disturbed ground. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

The plant is soaked in water to use the resulting slime as a soap substitute (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).