Xysmalobium involucratum

Xysmalobium involucratum, the scented xysmalobium or in Afrikaans hongersnoodwortel (famine root), is an erect or decumbent perennial growing from a carrot-like stem-tuber, reaching heights from 15 cm to 36 cm. The up to three stems are maroon, green or pale yellow stems and variably hairy. Milky latex appears when the plant surface is damaged.

The leaves grow opposite or in whorls on short stalks. They are narrow and up to 13 cm long, sometimes hairy on both surfaces. The leaf folds inwards along the prominent whitish midrib; there are also parallel lateral veins across the narrow lateral blades.

The plant grows widespread in the southeast of South Africa, while recorded to some extent in all provinces barring Limpopo. It is also found in Lesotho.

The habitat is grassland from the coast to high elevations. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

The plant is used in traditional medicine (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; iSpot; JSTOR; https://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).