Eric

Well, that is what Jekka calls it.

This is African Rosemary or Eriocephalus Africanus.

In Namaqualand, where this shrub grows prolifically, it is also known as Kapokbossie. It has a wonderful strong smell like a cross between ordinary rosemary and vicks. It flowers in winter with these amazing clusters of small, white flowers that turn into little tufts of fluff when they finish flowering.

I bought a small plant early in the summer to ad to my medicinal plant collection and it has grown to a wonderful, big, gangly, spindly bush. Until the storm a couple of weeks ago. It was blown to smithereens as it tranpsired to have very brittle branches. I am going to have to stake it from now on I think, not much is left of it :(

Anyway, this African wild rosemary has traditionally been used as a medicine for many ailments like coughs and colds, flatulence and colic, as a diuretic and a diaphoretic.It is also good for skin and hair.