Chironia baccifera
| Chironia baccifera | |
|---|---|
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| In bloom | |
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| In fruit | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gentianaceae |
| Genus: | Chironia |
| Species: | C. baccifera
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| Binomial name | |
| Chironia baccifera | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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List
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Chironia baccifera, known as Christmas berry (a name it shares with Passerina ericoides), bitterbossie or aambeibessie, is species of Chironia native to southern South Africa.[2] A bushy shrub, it can reach 1 m, but is typically 0.5 m in width and height. Its Afrikaans name aambeibessie refers to its supposed medicinal use in treating haemorrhoids.[3] It is used as an ornamental, preferring sandy soils. It is mildly toxic.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Sp. Pl.: 190 (1753)
- ^ a b "Chironia baccifera L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera and the Doctrine of Signatures". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera, the Christmas berry". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.