Medicinal Plants of Namibia | Page 42

Diagnostic(characteristics:(
Small,!yet!bright!redSpurple!berries!can!be!found!on!this!specimen!from!August!to!
December,!these!berries!taste!like!mustard!and!are!the!reason!for!its!common!
names6,!13.!!The!berries!develop!from!small!greenishSyellow!flowers,!which!can!be!
found!from!July!to!October13.!!Its!oblong!green!leaves!are!leathery,!occur!year!round,!
and!develop!to!be!80!mm!in!length13.!!This!shrub!tends!to!grow!more!outwardly—in!
width!rather!than!height—if!trained!to!grow!as!a!tree!through!landscape!trimming,!
it!could!grow!as!tall!as!8!m13.!!
!!!!!
Governmental(protection(status:(
This!shrub!is!not!currently!protected!by!any!legislation13.!
!
Indigenous(medicinal(use:!!
The!Kwanyama!mash!the!leaves!of!the!plant!and!mix!it!with!water!to!produce!a!
topical!treatment!for!rashes!and!symptoms!like!those!of!scarlet!fever35,!47.!!The!
Damara!make!a!tea!from!the!compressed!roots!of!the!mustard!bush!to!help!
infections,!digestive!issues,!diarrhea,!bloody!stools,!and!external!bleeding47,!50.!!The!
Himba!utilize!the!plant!to!help!with!chest!congestion47.!!Juvenile!branches!of!S.&
persica&in!addition!to!roots!can!be!used!to!maintain!dental!hygiene!and!treat!
toothaches13,!35,!47.!!Parasites!can!be!treated!with!ingestion!of!mashed!and!dried!root!
added!to!water47.!!!!!!!!!
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