Helichrysum nudifolium

Helichrysum nudifolium is a clump-forming perennial reaching heights up to 1,5 m. The leaves in the basal rosette are dark green and shiny above, whitish from fine, woolly hairs on the lower surfaces. The leaves are aromatic when dry.

The inflorescence is flat-topped, comprising many small flowerheads, each made up of a bunch of tiny disc florets. The flowers are presented well above the leaves on a long greyish stalk.

The species distribution is widespread in South Africa, present in all provinces excepting the Northern Cape, also elsewhere in Africa to the tropics. This plant was seen in Kirstenbosch during September.

The habitat is open grassland. The habitat populations of both the varieties of H. nudifolium found in South Africa are deemed to be of least concern early in the twenty first century.

Used in traditional medicine locally, the common name, Hottentot’s tea, suggests how. The plant grows easily. The clumps of leaf rosettes can be divided for transplanting. Positioned in full sun, watering is needed in summer in the absence of rain (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).