Hottentot's tea
Helichrysum nudifolium

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is erect and robust. It grows up to 1.5 m high. It has stout underground runners. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are long and narrowly oval. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are in loose heads on branched flower stalks. They are pale yellow.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in mountain forest and grassland. It grows between 1,500-3,050 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,470-1,880 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten. They are also used to make herbal tea.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Imphepho, Kudvutfane, Lulwini levenkhomo idunye, Ludvutfane, Nyamuchena

Synonyms

Helichrysum leiopodium DC.; Helichrysum nudifolium (L.) Less. var. leiopodium (DC.) Moeser;