Practical
Plants

Brachyglottis repanda

Bushman's Toilet Paper

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Brachyglottis genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[2].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A gum is obtained from the plant and is used for chewing[2]. It should not be swallowed[2], however, and in light of the warning on toxicity at the top of the page, perhaps it should not even be chewed[K].

Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A gum obtained from the plant is chewed to sweeten the breath[2].

Product or use
Antihalitosis

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant has large sage-green leaves with a white, hairy underside[6]. They are used as a substitute for toilet paper[2].

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Coastal to montane forest and scrub[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information on this species but the seed is probably best sown on the surface of a freely draining compost in the greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed can be surface sown in the greenhouse in early spring. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November in a frame[5]. Very easy[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a good well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position[1][5] or partial shade[3][4]. Plants are quite frost-tender and only succeed outdoors in Britain in the mildest areas of the country[1][5]. Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[3]. The flowers emit the sweet scent of mignonette, this is most pronounced at eventide[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  3. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

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