Agathosma

Read about Agathosma in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Barosma (heavy scent). Rutaceae. A group of 15 species of S. African heath-like shrubs. Fls. on axillary twigs; calyx 5-cleft or 5-parted; petals 5, oblong, usually subsessile; stamens 5, alternating with 5 staminoidea: Lvs. mostly opposite, rarely in 3's. Some of the species furnish the buchu Lvs. of commerce, which are used in medicine for their diuretic, diaphoretic, stimulant, and tonic properties. They are evergreens, and in the N. must be grown under glass. Prop. by mature-wood cuttings. B. foetidissima, Bartl. & Wendl. (Agathosma fœtidissima. Hort.). A low shrub, 2-3 ft.: Lvs. ternate, a little longer than the internodes: fls. umbellate at the ends of the branches, the petals one-half to one- third longer than the calyx, white or pinkish while.—Attractive little -shrub, grown in the temperate house, but evil-smelling. It often scents a whole greenhouse. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.