Are those fruits of Gardenia thunbergia?
We identified this shrub as Gardenia thunbergia. Common names are white gardenia, forest gardenia, wild gardenia. Gardenia thunbergia was the first of the South African gardenias to be known to botanists, and was introduced to Kew in 1773.
Do you agree with our plant ID?
Sure, it is Gardenia thunbergia. It belongs to the very large family of Rubiaceae. This family’s greatest claim to fame is the South American quinine tree, Cinchona, whose bark yields quinine, the first drug ever used to treat malaria. Coffee, Coffea arabica, is also a member of this family. In South Africa, the family is best known for its decorative flowering trees and shrubs.
Gardenia thunbergia flowers do not age yellow as many of the other species in the family do.
Gardenia thunbergia flower
It is considered to repel witchcraft in Karanga traditional medicine. 🙂 Roots are widely used in Africa to treat skin diseases, and skin lesions caused by leprosy. The roots are also used as an emetic against fever. The roots and leaves are used in various parts of Africa to treat syphilis, and the latex is used as a purgative.
Yes, it looks like Gardenia thunbergia
