Melianthaceae FAMILY

Melianthus major

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves of this species are used in traditional medicine. However the plant is almost universally recognised by traditional practitioners as being toxic and is only used for external application[ 295 Title PlantZAfrica.com Publication Author Website http://www.plantzafrica.com Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants. , 395 Title Pharmaceutical monographs for 60 South African plant species Publication Author Scott, G. and Springfield, E.P. Website http://www.plantzafrica.com/medmonographs Publisher Year 2004 ISBN Description A series of 60 monographs of S. African medicinal plants. Well written, with information on traditional uses and modern research into the plants. ] The root is poisonous[ 73 Title Flora of the Cape Peninsula. Publication Author Adamson. and Salter. Publisher Year ISBN Description A good flora but rather short on details of habitat. Not for the casual reader. ].

Botanical Description

Melianthus major is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3 metres tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental,

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeS. Africa - southwestern Cape

HabitatDamp sandy areas[ 260 Title Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books, London. Year 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5 Description Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside. ]. Grows alongside streams and roadside ditches[ 295 Title PlantZAfrica.com Publication Author Website http://www.plantzafrica.com Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants. ].