Sour Fig, Suurvy, Ghaukum (Carpobrotus edulis):  What does it look like?
  • See Section 7a - Food from the Veld for a description of the Sour Fig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sour Fig, Suurvy, Ghaukum (Carpobrotus edulis):  How do we use it?

 
  • The juice in the fleshy leaves has many uses:
    • Chew a leaf to treat a sore throat or mouth infection.
    • If you get stung by a bluebottle while swimming in the sea, find a sour fig plant in the dunes and squash a leaf onto your skin to relieve the sting.
    • Use freshly squeezed leaf juice to treat nappy rash.
  • Plant Sour Figs at home and at school so that you always have some of these useful plants available when you need them. They grow easily from cuttings planted straight into the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click the links to find out more about indigenous plants used for healing and beauty:
 
Cape May (Coleonema album)
Mountain Buchu (Agathosma betulina)
Carpet Geranium (Geranium incanum)
Rose-Scented Pelargonium (Pelargonium capitatum)
Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)