ON THIS PLANT
Boscia foetida, commonly known as the stink shepherd's tree and the smelly shepherd's bush, is an evergreen shrub or tree that is native to the warmer and drier parts southern Africa. It is found in semi-desert and arid bushveld, and in the west it occurs commonly in areas which are otherwise sparsely wooded. It is known for the particularly unpleasant smell of its flowers which appear during early spring, to which its specific name foetida alludes. Its freshly cut wood likewise has an unpleasant smell, and has traditional medicinal and magical uses, for instance as a protection against lightning. In central Botswana the village of Mopipi is named after this species.
CHARACTERISTICS
Botanical profile.
- Genus
- Boscia
- Family
- Capparaceae
ALSO KNOWN AS
Other names.
en Smelly Shepherd's Tree en Stinkbush en Bushveld shepherds tree en Smelly shepherds tree
PLATES
