Kouga Honeybush-tea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• honeybush tea
• mountain tea
• Kouga Bush Tea
• Mountain Honeybush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cyclopia vogelii var. intermedia
• Cyclopia aurea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Fabales and categorized into the family Fabaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Cyclopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is a species native to the southern portion of the African continent. Its natural occurrence is specifically concentrated within the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Within this region, it thrives in the unique environmental conditions provided by the local terrain. The geographical range of Cyclopia intermedia is therefore quite localized to these coastal and inland areas. Consequently, understanding its specific habitat in the Cape Provinces is essential for its conservation.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyclopia intermedia is characterized by its specific niche within various South African vegetation types, where it thrives across a diverse altitudinal gradient. This species is primarily distributed within landscapes ranging from low-lying areas to significant heights, occupying an elevational range that starts at a minimum of 215 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1525 m AMSL. Its presence is often tied to specific soil compositions and moisture regimes found within these varied elevations, allowing it to adapt to different microclimates ranging from coastal influences to more temperate montane conditions.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

215 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cyclopia intermedia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it lives for more than two years and undergoes repeated cycles of growth and reproduction. As a long-lived woody shrub, it establishes itself within its native ecosystem, contributing to the structural complexity of its habitat over multiple seasons. Its lifecycle involves a continuous presence in the environment, where it develops robust root systems and woody stems that allow it to persist through varying seasonal conditions. Through its perennial nature, the plant can invest energy into long-term survival and multiple flowering events, ensuring its ability to produce seeds and maintain population stability over extended periods.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cyclopia intermedia is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism. It is a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. The plant maintains a relatively compact stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 0.69 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.69 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cyclopia intermedia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Mangiferin.

Mangiferin

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cyclopia intermedia has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Chemopreventive.

Antimutagenic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Antimicrobial

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Chemopreventive

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Cyclopia intermedia has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include acrosome, lipid peroxidation, mitochondria, oxidative stress, sperm motility.

Acrosome

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Lipid peroxidation

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Mitochondria

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Oxidative stress

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Sperm motility

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Preparations

Cyclopia intermedia has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include honeybush (HB) tea.

Honeybush (hb) tea

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)