Lessertia frutescens
Species of legume
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lessertia frutescens (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br.; Colutea frutescens L.[1]) is a southern African legume in the family Fabaceae. It is also known as cancer bush,[2] balloon pea, Cape bladder pea, sutherlandia; and phetola ("it changes") in seTswana, and insiswa ("the one that drives away the darkness") in isiZulu. It is a shrub with bitter, aromatic leaves, with red-orange flowers appearing in spring to mid-summer.[3] These are followed by inflated, air-filled pods containing the seeds.[4]
| Lessertia frutescens | |
|---|---|
| |
| Foliage, flowers and immature seed pods, at Rooikoppe, Little Karroo, Western Cape, South Africa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Lessertia |
| Species: | L. frutescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Lessertia frutescens | |
Description
Lessertia 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.[3]
Cultivation
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]