bitter buchu

Diosma oppositifolia

Scientific name

Diosma oppositifolia is an erect, multi-stemmed, densely leafy, aromatic shrublet up to 1 m high. The leaves are small, needle-like to lance-shaped, stalkless and dotted with glands. The leaves are alternately opposite, which means that they are situated directly opposite each other on the stem, and that each pair is arranged alternately to the next pair so that they form four rows up the stem.

The fruit is a 5-chambered capsule with horn-like tips producing one seed per capsule. As it matures, the capsule dries, then cracks open and expels the seeds in a process known as ballistic dispersal.

References and further reading

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