Carpobrotus edulis
Carpobrotis edulis
Afrikaans: Suurvy
English: Sour fig
IsiXhosa: Gcukuma
Description and diagnostic features
It is a succulent smooth leafed sprawling plant that mostly grows on sandy soils. The outer edges of the leaves have a red tinge. The flowers are yellow. Sometimes the old shrivelling flowers have a pink hue. A different species, C. actinaciformis, has bright pink flowers.
Part used:
Leaves and fruits.
Uses
Chewing the leaves will release juice and immediately give relief to a sore throat.
It is fine to swallow the juice.
Fruits are cooked up with sugar and water to make a pleasant healing jam.
The leaf juice also relieves the sting of any insect and even bluebottles from the ocean. The juice also relieves the sting of Herpes zoster. Once the sting is relieved it is good to seal the open sore with Bulbine gel or a poultice of Lobostemon fruticosus ( our local comfrey), an even better sealer.
Warning
It will only treat the sore throat of a cold but not relieve the rest of cold and flu symptoms.
Habitat
Well drained sandy soils.
Propagation
It is easily propagated by placing a stolon with leaves on the soil.
