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Botanical Name
Halleria lucida
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Details

Halleria lucida, also known as tree fuchsia, umBinza or notsung, is a small, attractive, evergreen tree indigenous to Southern Africa, and it is increasingly grown as an ornamental tree in African gardens. It has lush, glossy, bright-green foliage on arching and drooping branches, is often multi-stemmed, and can reach over 15 metres. It is unusual in producing its flowers and fruit from the trunk, a habit called cauliflory. The orange or purple flowers are rich in nectar, and the small, fleshy fruits are edible. The article says the leaves and fruits are an important component of traditional African medicine. It also says the tree has a function in traditional Zulu religion: the ceremonial burning of the leaves is believed to counter witchcraft and summon the protective spirits of dead ancestors. The article carries a notice that it needs more citations.

References

#1#2

Correspondences

Elements
No elements recorded.
Celestial Bodies
No celestial bodies recorded.
Zodiac Signs
No zodiac signs recorded.
Colours
No colours recorded.
Deities
No deities recorded.

Folk Names

  • Notsung
  • Tree Fuchsia
  • umBinza

Categories

  • Protection
  • Warding

Substitutes

No substitutes recorded.

Forms

Leaf

References

#3

References

Notes

  1. Watt and G., Medicinal and Poisonous Plants, p. 169, "the Sutos use the plant as a charm against evil".
  2. Wikipedia, under "Halleria lucida," Uses (Zulu religion): "summon the protective spirits of dead ancestors".
  3. Wikipedia, under "Halleria lucida."

Bibliography

Halleria lucida | Sorrel & Salt