Rothmannia globosa
Rothmania, September Bells, Bell GardeniaFamily: Rubiaceae
Origin: Tropical Africa
Small everblooming tree with glossy leaves and off-white bell-shaped flowers, very fragrant. The fragrance is stronger than gardenia. One of the loveliest small trees for the home garden. It attracts birds and it has a non-aggressive root system. The beautiful bell-shaped flowers borne singly in summer from December to February. They are creamy white with purplish red streaks and speckles inside the flower tube. They have a strong sweet scent, which lingers even after they dry, and are about 1" long. They are followed by round, hard, green, 70 mm fruits, with a leathery skin marked with faint grooves. The fruits soften when ripe and turn brown. They contain many flat seeds embedded in pulp. The powdered roots are used for treating leprosy and rheumatism. The powder is rubbed into tiny incisions made into the skin over the effected parts. Juice from the fruits is heated and applied to wounds and burns to speed up the healing process. The effected parts are also held in smoke from the burning roots.
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