Uvuma omhlope (Synaptolepis kirkii) - dried root

• Dried root in pieces, 10 g or 50 g
• Naturally dried, with no chemical treatment
• Thick, dense pieces, light in colour

Synaptolepis kirkii is a shrub of the Thymelaeaceae family, the same family as the daphnes. It is found from Mozambique to Tanzania and as far as KwaZulu-Natal, in the sandy soils of coastal areas and dry forests.

Its Zulu name, uvuma-omhlope, is the one under which the plant is most often sold, well ahead of its Latin name. It is a rare material on the European market, because the plant grows slowly and it is its root that is harvested, not its aerial parts.

This is what sets batches apart. Genuine Uvuma omhlope comes as pieces of large fleshy root, dense and thick. Thin shavings or bark fragments do not match the part normally harvested, and should cast doubt on the origin of the batch.

Why is it so hard to find?
Because it is the root that is harvested, which means uprooting the whole plant, and the shrub takes several years to grow. The resource is therefore slow to renew, and batches are irregular.

What is its exact botanical name?
Synaptolepis kirkii, Thymelaeaceae family. The trade name Uvuma omhlope comes from Zulu and remains the most widely used.

How should it be stored?
In an airtight container, away from light and moisture. The dried root is dense and keeps very well when dry.

Can it be consumed?
No. We sell it as a collector's botanical material, not as a food product, and we do not provide any preparation method.

This plant is sold as botanical material intended for collection, ethnobotanical study and ornamental use. It is not a food product and is not intended for consumption. We provide no dosage, no preparation method and no expected effect. Sale restricted to adults (18 and over).

Also worth exploring: other materials from southern Africa in our dried herbs of the world, including Silene capensis and Kanna.