Klip Dagga: 50 grams of Leonotis nepetifolia
Leonotis nepetifolia is an annual plant with a shape you notice straight away. Its stem is square in cross section, as it is in almost every member of the mint family, and carries heart shaped leaves in opposite pairs with toothed edges. At intervals along that stem sit round, spiny flower heads that wrap all the way around it, so the stem appears to grow right through them. Orange, felty tubular flowers of roughly two to three centimetres push out of those balls. In warm regions the plant can pass two metres in height. The species name nepetifolia points at the leaf, which resembles that of catnip.
The plant originates in tropical Africa, most likely the west of the continent, and also grows natively in southern India. By now it has naturalised across nearly all tropical and subtropical regions, often along roadsides and on waste ground. Names such as lion's ear, shandilay and Christmas candlestick all refer to that striking flower head. Do not mix Klip Dagga up with Wild Dagga, Leonotis leonurus: that one is perennial with narrow, leathery leaves, while Klip Dagga is an annual with broad, serrated foliage. The word dagga comes from South Africa, but botanically this plant has nothing to do with cannabis; it sits beside mint and sage.
What you get and how to store it
The bag contains 50 grams of dried material: curled leaves in green to olive shades, with pieces of the flower heads and loose orange petals in between. African traditions brewed this material as a tea or dried it for use in smoking blends. Store the bag dry, dark and properly sealed, because moisture is the main enemy of any dried plant material. Keep it out of reach of children, avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and talk to your doctor if you take medication. Sales are to adults of eighteen and over, and use remains your own responsibility.
Herbs at Avalon Magic Plants
If you want to compare a few herbs from this corner of the range, have a look at Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), Valerian, Maconha Brava (Zornia latifolia) and Chamomile on the same shelf. Every order leaves our warehouse discreetly packed.
