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Christmas berry


Christmas berry

Chironia baccifera

Scientific name

Tangled shrublet to 50cm with narrow spreading leaves, often found growing next to the cliff path.

Leaves, stems and berries used for the treatment of ulcers, syphilis, leprosy, diabetes, kidney and bladder infections, cleansing the womb, and as a laxative (Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation. 2015. The Wild Harvesting of Plant Medicines in Cape Town.)

Also known as Haemorrhoid berry Wild Gentian, Aambeibos, Kalwerbos, Lymbos, Meidjiewillemse, Oondbossie, Sarsaparilla, Perdebossie, Ag-Dae-Geneesbos, Tandpynbos, Piles Bush, Toothache Berry, Agdaegeneesbos, Meidjiejanwillem, Soontjie-Se-Bos, Baaibos, Kersfeesbessie, Barsbessie, Agtdaegeneesbossie, Bitterbossie, Bloedsuiweringsbossie, Kalwerbossie, Lymbossie, Tandpynbossie, Meidjiejanwillemse, Aambeibossie

References and further reading

Learn more »

PlantZAfrica profile »

We currently have no seeds of this species in our seedbanks. Do you have any seeds or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!
We currently have no plants of this species in our home nurseries. Do you have any plants or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!

This table below shows how many plants we are trying to obtain for this species.

Site Area Quantity
Site #15 Rosebank 30
Site #66 Mowbray 40
Site #64 Mowbray 30
Total 100

Important characteristics

Conservation status: Least Concern

This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.

It provides medicinal value

Suitable for sandy soil

Chironia baccifera is indigenous to: Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Cape Flats Dune Strandveld

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