Sutherlandia frutescens (cancer bush,[2] balloon pea, sutherlandia, phetola ("it changes") in seTswana, and insiswa ("the one that drives away the darkness") in isiZulu; syn. Colutea frutescens L., Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning) is a southern African legume. It is a shrub with bitter, aromatic leaves. Red-orange flowers appear in spring to mid-summer.[3]
| Sutherlandia frutescens | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Sutherlandia |
| Species: | S. frutescens
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| Binomial name | |
| Sutherlandia frutescens | |
Cultivation
editSutherlandia 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. 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
edit- ^ "Sutherlandia frutescens". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ NRCS. "Sutherlandia frutescens". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ a b Phakamani M' Afrika Xaba & Alice Notten (April 2003). "Sutherlandia frutescens". Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2007-03-02.