Lessertia frutescens
| Lessertia frutescens | |
|---|---|
| Foliage, flowers and immature seed pods, at Rooikoppe, Little Karroo, Western Cape, South Africa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Lessertia |
| Species: | L. frutescens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lessertia frutescens | |
Lessertia frutescens (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br.; Colutea frutescens L.[1]) is a southern African legume in the family Fabaceae. It is also known as cancer bush,[2] balloon pea, Cape bladder pea, sutherlandia; and phetola ("it changes") in seTswana, and insiswa ("the one that drives away the darkness") in isiZulu. It is a shrub with bitter, aromatic leaves, with red-orange flowers appearing in spring to mid-summer.[3] These are followed by inflated, air-filled pods containing the seeds.[4]
Description
Lessertia frutescens is a small bush growing up to about 1 m (39 in) high. It is native to dry parts of southern Africa, preferring full sun but tolerant of a wide variety of soil types. It is a tough, hardy, fast growing and drought tolerant but short lived plant. Seeds germinate readily in around two to three weeks and established plants self-seed readily.[3]
Cultivation
Seedlings may be vulnerable to damping off, but provided it is in well-drained soil, it grows readily and is not very vulnerable to pests.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ NRCS. "Sutherlandia frutescens". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ a b c Phakamani M' Afrika Xaba & Alice Notten (December 2015). "Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning subsp. frutescens (=Sutherlandia frutescens)". Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ Hogan, Sean (2004). Flora - The Gardener's Bible. Willoughby, New South Wales: Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd. p. 1383. ISBN 1-74048-097-X.