Ehretia rigida subsp. nervifolia after the rain

Profuse flowering of Ehretia rigida subsp. nervifolia shrubs may be seen during the plant’s long flowering season that lasts from spring to midwinter, rain permitting.

The plant in its variable forms occurs in most of the eastern half of South Africa as well as in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. This plant was photographed on the Magaliesberg in November. The shrubs are usually found in thickets of bushveld, along forest margins and sometimes seen on termite mounds.

E. rigida subsp. nervifolia has found its way into traditional medicine, also in the treatment of some cattle diseases. In addition, some improbable and puzzling superstition related practices involving the puzzle bush are on record.

It is browsed by stock and game (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Schmidt, et al, 2002).