Botanical information

C. genistoides (kustee, coastal tea)

C. genistoides is generally found on sandy soils of the coastal areas from Yzerfontein near Darling on the West Coast, southwards to the Cape Peninsula and from there eastwards to Gouriqua close to the mouth of the Gouritz river.  In the Cape Peninsula, however, this species is sometimes also found in mountainous areas. There are considerable differences in sizes and growth habits of plants between different areas.  On the West Coast bushes are up to 2 m tall whereas in all other areas the plants are 1m tall or smaller.  Plants from the mountainous areas in the South-western Cape as well as those in the southern Cape are usually more dense and the proximal leaves on the shoots are more persistent than in the case of the West Coast plants.  This species is a re-sprouter.  It does not have a prominent underground lignotuber such as that of C. intermedia but it resprouts from thickened roots and from the base of the main stem after fire or harvest.

Cyclopia genistoides Bushes	Cyclopia genistoides flowering shoot

An example of a leaf of C. genistoides  (D) compared to those of C. intermedia (A),      C. subternata (B),  C. sessiliflora (C) and C. maculate (E).  There is, however, much mutual variation in sizes and shapes within species

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Cyclopia subternata (vleitee, vlei tea)

Cyclopia subternata flowers

Six-year old bush in a planting (0.9 m white marker)

Cyclopia subternata is usually found in milder micro-climatic conditions when compared to C. intermedia.  It is found in relatively large numbers in the Tsitsikamma and in the Langkloof and in various localities on the southern slopes in the Outeniqua and Langeberg mountains.

The species is a seeder and all plants are totally killed by fire.  Its survival strategy is based on efficient seedling regeneration from seeds in the soil seed bank. The first harvest, depending on the area and climate, is possible after 1 to 2 years. Harvesting practices are very important in terms of the survival rate of plants and the effect of harvest date on production and survival is currently being studied.  Indications are that plantations will not last longer than seven years with the current cultivation practises (no irrigation and fertilization).  This species flowers profusely in spring.   Regular harvesting results in dense bushes.  Plants in nature usually have only one to three long branches.

Honeybush mature plants

Die-back of a C. subternata plant

The species are long-lived perennials.  When harvesting the re-sprouters, most or even all of the top growth can be removed.  A re-seeding species such as C. subternata, however, is killed by excessive removal of top growth and should be harvested at knee  height, i.e. about 30-50 cm from the ground, with green material remaining on the plant. Plants should be harvested at least annually from a young age to stimulate growth.  Harvesting of old plants with thick stems should take place at such a level that enough leaves remain on shoots, otherwise die-back is a problem.

Flowering time of the commercial species is from August to October.  Cyclopia is a legume with pea-like flowers.  The bloom is extremely sweet-scented and probably gave rise to the name “honeybush”.  Profuse flowering and fruiting, however, represent a severe drain on the plants’ nutrient reserves.  This phenomenon is reflected in temporary yellowing of bushes.   Cyclopia plants can be positively identified by considering only two characters.  In all Cyclopia species the leaves are trifoliated and the flower has an intrusive calyx base.  The generic name is derived from the circle-shaped depression or sunken area (cyclops) in the base of the calyx where the pedicel is attached to the flower

The sunken or intrusive calyx base of a flower as seen from the pedicel as well as the trifoliated leaf