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You are at:Home»OUTSIDE»Local and Lovely»Dreams and butterflies
Local and Lovely

Dreams and butterflies

Grocott's Mail ContributorsBy Grocott's Mail ContributorsSeptember 18, 2017Updated:October 12, 2017No Comments2 Mins Read
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Name: Helinus integrifolius (Lam.) Kuntze                         

Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn-family)

Common names:

Engl. Soap Bush, Soap Creeper, Soap Plant

Afr. Seepbos, Seepbossie

Xho. Ubulawu, Ubhubhubhu

An oneirogen plant!

Description

Sprawling climber. Tendrils are unbranched. Leaves ±30mm, blade thin, tips blunt, rounded, with short, sharp protuberance. Flowers are in few-flowered inflorescences; flowers small, white to green (October-April). Fruit three-lobed, ±8mm, tipped with remains of calyx.

Conservation status

According to the SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) Red List of South African Plants, Helinus intergrifolius was not selected in any one of four screening processes for highlighting potential taxa of conservation concern for detailed assessment and was hence given an automated status of Least Concern (LC.) (redlist.sanbi.org)

Distribution and habitat

Integrifolius is found in bushveld and rocky wooded places. Provincial distribution: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West and Western Cape.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

Helinus derives from elinus meaning a twiner and integrifolius means the leaves with smooth unbroken margins. Ubulawu derives from ukulawula, meaning to interpret dreams. Ubhubhubhu means quick, fast, or in the shortest possible time, and refers to the rapid action of the medicine in overpowering harmful medicines or witchcraft.

Ecology

Helinus integrifolius is host plant for butterfly larvae.

Uses and cultural aspects

Used as ritual body wash and an emetic and believed to bring good luck and positive results in court cases, exams, competitions, etc. It is an ubulawu (dream-inducing) plant used by some clans in rituals to facilitate communication with ancestors.

How to grow climbers

Helinus integrifolius is climber. Climbers are spectacularly showy but surprisingly low maintenance, provide simple landscape solutions to a range of garden problems and are particularly useful in small spaces. Use them to soften a bare wall or cover a plain fence, creating a view where none exists such as in a courtyard or at the side of a house. Read more about the climbers: www.handyman.net.au/how-grow-climbers

References and further reading

Dold, T., Cocks, M. 2012. Voices from the Forest, Celebrating Nature and Culture in Xhosaland. Jacana Media, Sunnyside, Auckland Park, South Africa.

Pooley, E. 2005. A Field Guide to Wild Flowers, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. The Flora Publications

Trust, c/o Natal Herbarium, Botanical Gardens Road, Durban 4001.

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