Fabaceae FAMILY

Aspalathus linearis

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Aspalathus linearis is an erect to spreading, highly variable shrub growing up to 2 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 plant is the source of rooibos tea and is both harvested from the wild and cultivated on a commercial basis in S. Africa - the tea is sold worldwide. This is one of the few wild species to have been developed as a commercial crop in the 20th century[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. It is grown both for use as a refreshing, caffeine-free tea, and also for its purported medicinal benefits[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeS. Africa - south and south-west Cape.

HabitatSandy hills and on the sides of mountains[ 245 Title Scented Flora of the World. Publication Author Genders. R. Publisher Robert Hale. London. Year 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 Description An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations. ]. Well-drained, sandy but moisture-retaining, non-acidic soils[ 268 Title The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Publication Author Stuart. M. (Editor) Publisher Orbis Publishing. London. Year 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2 Description Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs. ].