Curtisia dentata Tree Seeds - Cape Lancewood or Assegai ~ Aphrodisiac / Psychoactive - Indigenous

Curtisia dentata Seeds

Cape Lancewood, Assegai

Curtisia dentata, commonly known as Cape Lancewood or Assegai (after the assegai spear), is a flowering plant from southern Africa. It is the sole species in genus Curtisia, which was originally included among the Cornaceae, but is now placed in its own family Curtisiaceae. It is an evergreen tree growing to 15 m tall, with opposite, coarsely toothed leaves 5–11 cm long. The Cape Lancewood grows in the forests of South Africa and Swaziland, ranging from sea level to 1800 meters elevation, from Western Cape to Limpopo province. In the mature Afromontane forest it grows to a tall tree, while on grassy mountain slopes and coastal scrub it remains small and bushy. The bark of Curtisia dentata is traditionally used by the Zulus as an aphrodisiac with healing properties to cure ailments such as diarrhoea, and to purify ones blood. It is also reported to be used for magical purposes, though the use is kept secret.