Lippia javanica- Fever tea,Lemon Bush-plant

Description

Lippia javanica

SprengFamily: Verbenaceae

Common names: Fever tea/ Lemon Bush (English) KoorsbossieBeukesbossie/Lemoenbossie (Afrikaans)mutswane, umSutane (Swati )inZinziniba (Xhosa)umSuzwane, umSwazi (Zulu)musukudu, bokhukhwane (Tswana)

This 1 to 2m high woody shrub stands erect and is multi-stemmed. The stems have a square appearance when looked at in cross-section. The leaves are hairy with noticeable veins and when crushed gives off a strong lemon-like smell. It is said to be one of the most aromatic of South Africa’s indigenous shrubs. The small cream flowers can be found on the shrub from summer to autumn in some areas and in others are produced all year. These flowers are arranged in dense, rounded flower heads. The fruit are rather inconspicuous, small and dry.