Resurrection bush
Myrothamnus flabellifolius

Family: Myrothamnaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can lie along the ground or be erect. It has many branches. It grows 30-90 cm tall. The young branches are 4 sides. There are narrow wings. The leaves cross over along fast growing long branches. The leaves are 10-14 cm long by 6-8 cm wide. The flowering stalks are 2-3 cm long. They are on the ends of short branches. The fruit is a capsule with 3 lobes. The seeds are 0.5 mm long. The leaves can shrink and appear dry in the dry season then turn green in a few minutes after rain so is called the resurrection bush.

There is one genus and 2 species in the Myrothamnaceae family.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot, arid, places. It can grow in semi-desert. It is drought tolerant. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows between 500-1,900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for medicinal tea. They are also used as a spice. The twigs are used to flavour tea.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bergborgoe, Camba-lupili, Canasa, Chisoni, Umafavuke, Monnakgang

Synonyms

Cliffortia flabellifolia Sond.; Myrothamnus flabellifolius subsp. elongatus H. Weim.; Myrothamnus flabellifolius subsp. robustus H. Weim.;