Lessertia frutescens

Lessertia frutescens (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R.Br.; Colutea frutescens L.^[1]) is a southern African legume in the family Fabaceae. It is also known as cancer bush,^[2] balloon pea, Cape bladder pea, sutherlandia; and phetola ("it changes") in seTswana, and insiswa ("the one that drives away the darkness") in isiZulu. It is a shrub with bitter, aromatic leaves, with red-orange flowers appearing in spring to mid-summer.^[3] These are followed by inflated, air-filled pods containing the seeds.^[4]

Lessertia frutescens
Foliage, flowers and immature seed pods, at Rooikoppe, Little Karroo, Western Cape, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Lessertia
Species:	L. frutescens
Binomial name
Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning[1]

Description

Lessertia frutescens is a small bush growing up to about 1 m (39 in) high. It is native to dry parts of southern Africa, preferring full sun but tolerant of a wide variety of soil types. It is a tough, hardy, fast growing and drought tolerant but short lived plant. Seeds germinate readily in around two to three weeks and established plants self-seed readily.^[3]

Cultivation

Seedlings may be vulnerable to damping off, but provided it is in well-drained soil, it grows readily and is not very vulnerable to pests.^[3]