Chironia baccifera

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]

Chironia baccifera
In bloom
In fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Gentianaceae
Genus: Chironia
Species:
C. baccifera
Binomial name
Chironia baccifera
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Chironia baccata Hoffmanns.
    • Chironia parviflora Salisb.
    • Roeslinia baccifera G.Don
    • Roeslinia tetragona Moench

References

  1. Sp. Pl.: 190 (1753)
  2. "Chironia baccifera L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera and the Doctrine of Signatures". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. Lätti, Ivan. "Chironia baccifera, the Christmas berry". Photos of South African Plants. Operation Wildflower. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
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