Page 11 - Landscape SA 99

FEATURE

Entrance to Rand Water’s Rietvlei office park "Gogo Olive", a 400 year old Olive tree at the head office

Ziziphus mucronata – Buffalo Olea europaea subsp. Africana - Protecting medicinal plants
thorn, Haak-en- steek-wag-n-biet- Wild Olive, Wilde Olyf (Afrikaans),
jie (Afrikaans), umPhafa (Zulu and umNquma (Zulu), Mohlware Medicinal plants have been used
Xhosa) (Sotho) by humans for thousands of years.
Unfortunately, increased pressure on our
Warm bark and leaf infusions are used Dried leaves or stem bark are used to natural environment, a high demand for
as expectorants in cough and chest lower blood pressure and to enhance naturally grown medicinal plants, and
problems. Root infusions are popular as renal function, whereas the infusion of illegal collection from wild populations,
a remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery. A the fresh bark is taken to relieve colic. has placed some of these plants at
decoction of roots and leaves are applied Infusions of the leaves are widely used risk of becoming highly threatened or
externally to boils, sores and glandular for eye infections, urinary tract infections, extinct. Rand Water is contributing to the
swelling, not only for healing but also for headaches, sore throat and diuretics. The protection of these important medicinal
pain relief. early Cape settlers used the fruits to treat plants by creating an awareness of them
diarrhoea. and conserving a vital pocket of their
Sutherlandia frutescens – Cancer natural habitat. LSA
Bush, Kankerbos (Afrikaans), umN- Rhoicissus tridentata - Wild grape,
wele (Zulu) Murumbulambudzana (Venda) Sources:
Dawidjiewortel (Afrikaans) http://biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/planning-
The leaves are used as a remedy for and-assessment/plant-conservation-strategy/
stomach problems, internal cancers The powdered roots or leaves are sniffed target-12/
and as a good general medicine. It to relieve headaches and powdered roots
is also said to be used by traditional are used for the removal of warts, broken
healers as a remedy for colds, influenza, bones and wounds. Roots are used as a
chicken pox, diabetes, varicose, piles, styptic or for scrofula (a condition in which
inflammation, liver problems, backache bacteria that causes tuberculosis causes For more information on
and rheumatism. Fresh leaves can be symptoms outside the lungs). Infusions Water Wise, visit
infused into a tea. It can also be used to are administered for oedeme, also known www.randwater.co.za or
wash wounds and bring down fevers. In as dropsy (medical term for fluid retention email us at waterwise@
the Cape, some farmers use this for eye- in the body). People with bad dreams take randwater.co.za. Water Wise
related treatments. pounded roots as emetics to dispel those is also active on Twitter,
dreams. Facebook and Youtube

One of the rocky outcrops within the
One of the educational awareness signs around the office park nature reserve

Landscape SA • Issue 99 2021 9