Helichrysum petiolare, the licorice-plant or liquorice plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a subshrub native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa — where it is known as impepho — and to Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is naturalized in parts of Portugal and the United States. Growing to about 45 cm (18 in) high and 150 cm (59 in) broad, it is a trailing evergreen subshrub with furry grey-green leaves and small white flowers. Other common names include silver-bush everlastingflower, trailing dusty miller and kooigoed. The foliage has a faint licorice aroma, but Helichrysum petiolare is not closely related to true liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, from which liquorice candy is made.
Cultivation It is cultivated for its foliage and as groundcover. This plant prefers sun to partial shade with well drained soil, being susceptible to root rot. It is hardy to zones 9–11, in mild or coastal areas where temperatures do not fall below freezing for extended periods. It requires a sheltered position in full sun. Numerous cultivars have been developed, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-
Biological The name impepho used in Southern Africa refers to around 250 species from the genus Helichrysum. The Helichrysum species used as impepho grow abundantly in South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho but especially around coastal areas and the largely arid Northern Cape province. The plants grow abundantly in gardens and in the wild, for this reason most impepho is harvested in the wild and commercial cultivation in South Africa is unknown. Helichrysum species used as imphepho are hardy and adaptable, growing in a wide variety of soil types, are drought resistant, wind resistant and can survive light frost. The seeds are wind-dispersed. Little preference is shown for specific types of impepho. Amongst traditional healers, local availability is more important than a preference for a particular species. There is little evidence of medicinal properties being stronger in certain Helichrysum species and for ritual purposes they are all treated as exactly the same. For medicinal and ritual purposes, it is mainly the aerial parts of the plant that are used (most often dried, but also fresh), less commonly the roots.
Uses
Its Afrikaans common name of kooigoed translates as "bedding stuff" and it is still used to provide a soft and aromatic mattress. The essential oil has been investigated for its anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In South Africa it forms a component of traditional African medicine. The leaves and twigs are boiled and prepared as a sort of tea to soothe coughs and fever. The leaves are also applied to wounds to prevent infection, and are ceremonially burnt to produce a traditional incense.
Medicinal uses In its ritual use, impepho is believed to invoke and placate the ancestors and to drive away malicious spirits; since these are regarded as common causes of illness in African traditional medicine, it is not surprising that imphepho is a very important medicinal plant in this traditional medical field. Apart from its traditional importance, imphepho has been widely researched in recent years. A great deal of scientific and anecdotal evidence seems to support the claims of traditional healers. Impepho is traditionally used as a wound dressing. The plant has proven anti-microbial properties and appears to work effectively as pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory, probably due to various volatile oils and flavanoids. Ash from burnt impepho and fresh or dried aerial parts of the plant are common ingredients in wound dressings; burning the plant causes chemical changes to the plant which affect its healing properties. The oils are said to be of great value in healing scars and acne, imphepho is believed to stimulate cellular regeneration. Impepho is boiled either in water or milk to make a tea, it is used internally to treat coughs, colds, fever, infection, menstrual pain, headaches, insomnia, hypertension and even allergies and diabetes. For pain relief and to treat coughs, colds, bronchitis and other chest infections the plant is burnt and the smoke inhaled. No evidence is available as to how effective imphepho is as a treatment for tuberculosis but the plant's common use in the area and the prevalence of the illness suggest that it may be ineffective. The papery flowers of various species come in a range of colours with bright to dull yellow, white, pink and orange being most common. They are popular in flower arrangements and have been used in potpourri.
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