Osyris compressa

Botanical Description

Cape sumach is an evergreen shrub, sometimes attaining the size of a small bushy tree; it grows from 1 - 5 metres tall[ 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. ]. The bole can be up to 25cm in diameter[ 494 Title Report on the Natal Forests Publication Author Fourcade H.G. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Wm. ;, Natal Year 1889 ISBN Description Contains a list of the trees of Natal, with a brief listing of their uses, including many traditional uses. The report can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Although capable of photosynthesis and thus producing its own food, it is also a parasite on the roots of other plants[ 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. ]. The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a source of food, medicine and other commodities. The fruits are highly decorative on the plant - since they don't ripen all at once, the plant can be very attractive for long periods throughout the year. And so the plant is often grown as an ornamental. They also attract birds and insects to the garden wherever they are planted[ 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. , 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].