Foraging Round Two
Time to explore more, some plants hidden secrets yet to be revealed, some you learn from friends, work associates depending on the knowledge which is normally something you never know or heard of. In the garden or along walks in parks reminders pop up of things said when seeing a plant you never grew.
Lantana Camara is one such plant, told to me many years ago by a work associate, only on seeing the plant at a local park I photographed and researched more, having the gist from the elderly man.
Firstly this plant I always heard is outlawed to grow, a perennial flowering plant found in our sub-tropical region, considered an invasive weed, but what are the true benefits. My elderly Indian associate spoke highly in favour of the plant, lets see what I found in research, other than being salt and drought resistant living on the coast, flowers are exceptionally pretty.
Leaves of the plant used for numerous ailments such as malaria, chickenpox, asthma, ulcer, swelling, eczema, tumour, high blood pressure, bilious fever, sores, measles, fevers, colds and high blood pressure. Essential oils used antiseptic for wounds. Wood has variety of uses in baskets, floor mats making decent friction time for starting fires.
Strange, although the plant offers benefits, instruction to wear gloves at all times with plant being poisonous, not to be consumed, perhaps that is one of the reasons for ban planting them. Those in the know making essential oils may benefit by extracting floral-woody fragrance to be used in a variety of air-freshners, added into washing for clothing, home floors, air filters.
Chemical compound of berries have beneficial properties for all sorts of medications. Pentacyclic triterpenoids are used as anti-inflammatories and have anti-tumor and anti-hypertensive properties, making them an important tool in cancer treatment.
Other research says the berries are edible once black-blue colour before eating, when not fully ripened tend to be toxic. No matter, I never planted around the home, this was a wonderful exercise in learning more about a plant where information was passed on by an elder who lived in Durban since his childhood, relied on what the land offered around them when growing up. Possibility is confusion with Lantana rugosa Thunb. of that I am not sure, when seeing the plant out in a park, indigenous cultures prepare using either leaves or fruits of Lantan rugosa for treatments.
Backyard Plants
The Curry Tree (Murraya koenigii) used all year round for curries, stews and soups. For the animal kingdom birds and insects enticed by its fragrant, small, white star-flowers scent on the evening air. The flowers are followed by clusters of black berries, which are edible and much loved by the birds.
The compound leaflets, usually about 16 on a stem, have a strange pungent smell which, if 2 or 3 stems of leaflets are laid on top of the curry while it is cooking, will impart a fabulous flavour, but remove the leaves before serving. The fresh leaves can also be used to treat minor burns and skin eruptions, like boils, abscesses and bruises. Crushed and warmed in hot water, the pulp is then packed over the bruise, burn or boil and held in place with a bandage. A tea made of 4-6 fresh leaflets to 1 cup of boiling water (stand 5 minutes, then strain and sip slowly) is taken for stomach upsets, diarrhoea and even dysentery in Sri Lanka. A tea made of 2 full leaves (about 16 leaflets) in 2 cups of boiling water, cooled and strained, is used as a soothing wash for haemorrhoids and sore, rough feet, and if 4 cups of fresh leaves are boiled in about 4 litres of water along with 10 cloves and the skin of 1 lemon, for 15 minutes, then cooled and strained, this soothing brew can be added to the bath, or used as a wash for oily, pimply skin, or used to soothe aching feet and rough skin and burning soles. Curry Tree
Word is out, eat the berries fruit only, do not swallow seed! When fully ripe the black berry have a subtly sweet, savory, herbal, and citrus taste combined with perfumed, tangy, peppery, and resinous nuances, it's up to your taste buds whether you like them or not.
Nutritional Value: Curry berries are a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation, calcium to build sturdy bones and teeth, and phosphorus to repair cellular tissues. The berries also provide some potassium to balance fluid levels within the bloodstream, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and magnesium to regulate optimal nerve functioning. The saturated, dark purple-red hues found in the flesh and skin indicate the presence of anthocyanins, natural pigments with antioxidant-like properties to protect the cells against the damage caused by oxidative stress and free radicals. Curry Berries
Always enjoy sharing about a resident in my garden for about thirty-five years, used often in the kitchen my one go to tree on many an occasion.
Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting hopefully both these plants find themselves a home where they are fully appreciated.
All photography is my own, any queries or requests please drop a comment below, have a wonderful day!
Thought for Today: "When weeds invade the land, it means the owner is absent." - African Proverb