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Chironia baccifera

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Chironia baccifera
In bloom
In fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Chironia
Species:
C. baccifera
Binomial name
Chironia baccifera
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Chironia baccata Hoffmanns.
    • Chironia parviflora Salisb.
    • Roeslinia baccifera G.Don
    • Roeslinia tetragona Moench

Chironia baccifera, known as Christmas berry (a name it shares with Passerina ericoides), bitterbossie or aambeibessie, is species of Chironia native to southern South Africa.[2] A bushy shrub, it can reach 1 m, but is typically 0.5 m in width and height. Its Afrikaans name aambeibessie refers to its supposed medicinal use in treating haemorrhoids.[3] It is used as an ornamental, preferring sandy soils. It is mildly toxic.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sp. Pl.: 190 (1753)
  2. ^ a b "Chironia baccifera L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. ^ Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera and the Doctrine of Signatures". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera, the Christmas berry". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.