10 Volkameria glabra Syn. Clerodendrum glabrum Tree Seeds - Tinderwood - Worldwide Delivery

Volkameria glabra Seeds

Tinderwood; Tontelhout

Volkameria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. It is pantropical in distribution. Many of the species are found in coastal habitats. The species of Volkameria are mostly shrubs, sometimes subshrubs or lianas, rarely small trees. The stems have swollen nodes. The flowers are usually fragrant. The fruit matures black or brown, separating into four corky pyrenes. Volkameria glabra, previously known as Clerodendrum glabrum and commonly known as Bitterblaar, Stinkboom, Tontelhout in Afrikaans and Cats Whiskers, Smooth Tinderwood, Tinderwood, Verbena Tree, Weeping Tree or White Cats Whiskers in English, is a very hardy, semi-deciduous, fast-growing, small tree or large shrub with a dense crown. It has shiny, dark-green leaves that are pungent when crushed. From December to June it bears profuse, dense clusters of white to pinkish flowers that have long stamens. In some specimens the flowers are wonderfully scented. It is commonly used as insect repellent. It was also traditionally used by Vha-venda to counter the effect of witchcraft, and the strong smell produced by the leaves is believed to repel polecats and hyenas, and was allegedly used by witches. The milky latex from this plant is smeared onto livestock for removal of ticks. The roots are used to treat the snakebites on livestock and people. Decoctions of leaves are used for treating coughs, colds, prolapse, wounds and diarrhoea. The wood of the tree was used to start fire in the olden days. Infusions of the leaves were used to treat bad dreams. It has been a traditional skill and common knowledge that if one crushes leaves and rubs them on hands and face when collecting honey, the smell of the leaves repels the bees from attacking.