textAdminOnlyNameForClipboard
Perdepis
Clausena anisata
SA tree no: 265
English: Horsewood, Horse Piss, Wild Camphor Bush, Cherry Orange
Afrikaans: Perdepis, Perdepisboom, Lemoenhout, Perdeboom, Perdebos , Perdepisbos , Perdepisbossie, Stinkbas, Basternieshout, Gewone Perdepis, Wilde Kamferbos
Xhosa: UmGuni, umTuto, umNukandiba, IIsifutho iIsitutu
Zulu: isaNama, umPhuthumane, umSanga, umWashampunzi
N. Sotho: Monna-wa-mosadi, Sehlabelo
S. Sotho: Sehlabo
Tsonga: Ximungunya-huku
Tswana: Monokane
Venda: Muthavhaswaba, Mudedede, Munukha-vhaloi, Murandela
Historical scientific names: Clausena inaequalis, Clausena dunniana, Clausena longipes
Clausena anisata, commonly known as Horsewood or Perdepis, is a highly aromatic indigenous evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub or small tree. It is easily identified by its distinctive strong, somewhat unpleasant, horse-like scent when its leaves are crushed, its attractive compound leaves, small creamy-white flowers, and small, edible, orange-red fruits. It's a versatile plant with significant traditional medicinal uses.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features:
Emits a strong, distinctive, often unpleasant, horse-like or "pee-like" odour when leaves are crushed, leading to the Afrikaans name "Perdepis" (horse pee).
Leaves are compound (pinnate), with numerous small, asymmetrical leaflets.
Small, creamy-white to yellowish-green flowers in loose sprays.
Small, ovoid to spherical fruits ripening to orange-red.
Often multi-stemmed with a dense, bushy appearance.
Overall appearance:
The Perdepis (Clausena anisata) is a dense, multi-stemmed, evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub or small tree, renowned for the strong, horse-like aroma released when its leaves are crushed. It features attractive, glossy, dark green compound leaves and produces sprays of small, creamy-white flowers, followed by decorative, edible, orange-red fruits. While the scent can be an acquired taste, it's a robust and ecologically valuable plant.
Height:
Typically grows 2 to 7 metres tall as a shrub or small tree, occasionally reaching up to 10 metres in favourable conditions.
Width:
Can spread to a width of 1 to 4 metres, forming a dense, bushy crown.
Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, compound, imparipinnate (with an odd number of leaflets, ending in a single leaflet), typically 10-30 cm long. Each leaf has 9-27 (or more) alternate, asymmetrical leaflets. The leaflets are broadly ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, typically 1-6 cm long and 0.5-3 cm wide, glossy dark green above, paler beneath, and often have finely serrated or scalloped margins. They are dotted with translucent oil glands, which release the characteristic odour when crushed. The midrib on the underside of the leaflet is often slightly hairy.
Flowers:
The flowers are very small (about 3-5 mm in diameter), creamy-white to yellowish-green, and star-shaped, with 4-5 petals. They are borne in loose, erect, branched sprays (panicles) at the ends of branches or in the leaf axils, typically 10-30 cm long. They have a faint sweet scent, which is different from the crushed leaf smell. Clausena anisata flowers are bisexual (hermaphroditic), containing both male and female reproductive parts.
Flowering season:
It has an extended flowering season, primarily from late winter through spring and into summer (around August to December), but can flower sporadically throughout the year in warm, moist conditions.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small, fleshy, ovoid to spherical berry, about 4-8 mm in diameter. It ripens from green to yellow, then orange, and finally bright orange-red when fully mature. Each fruit contains 1-2 seeds. They are produced in abundance and are edible.
Seeds:
Each fruit contains 1-2 small, dark brown or black seeds, embedded in the fleshy pulp. Seeds are primarily dispersed by birds that consume the fruit.
Bark/Stems:
The bark is smooth and greyish-brown on young branches, becoming darker and rougher, sometimes slightly fissured, with age. Young stems are often reddish-brown and sparsely hairy.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood is pale yellowish-white, fairly soft, and brittle. It is not typically used for large-scale timber but has some traditional uses.
Roots:
It has a strong, fibrous root system that helps it anchor in various soil types and adapt to different environments.
Soil type:
Adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It tolerates poor soil conditions and a range of pH levels.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. In shadier conditions, it tends to be more leggy. It is moderately drought-tolerant once established but prefers regular moisture. It is sensitive to severe frost, especially young plants, and prefers frost-free or mild-frost climates, though it can recover from the rootstock after light frost.
Ediblity:
The ripe orange-red fruits are edible for humans. They have a sweet but slightly spicy or resinous flavour. They are typically eaten fresh but are not widely used in culinary preparations. In some regions, they are noted for their cherry-like size and lemony flavor. However, there is variation in fruit color, with some sources mentioning translucent pale green to white fruits, possibly indicating different varieties or ripeness stages. Always ensure proper identification and local knowledge before consuming, as edibility can depend on specific conditions or preparations.
Toxicity:
While the fruits are edible and the plant has extensive traditional medicinal uses, it is the strong essential oils in the leaves that give it its characteristic smell. As with many plants used medicinally, large quantities or improper preparation can be harmful. It's generally not considered toxic in the way some other poisonous plants are, but caution is advised with internal use of leaves or other parts.
Uses:
Highly valued in traditional African medicine for a wide range of ailments. Decoctions of leaves, roots, and bark are used for fever, colds, flu, coughs, malaria, headaches, stomach ache, diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and as an insect repellent. It is also used in traditional rituals and as a magical plant. In gardens, it can be used as a screen, an informal hedge, or a background plant, especially in wildlife-friendly gardens. Its attractive foliage and fruits make it a good ornamental.
Ecology:
The small flowers attract various insect pollinators, including bees. The abundant, bright orange-red fruits are a significant food source for numerous bird species, including barbets, bulbuls, mousebirds, starlings, and pigeons, which are crucial for seed dispersal. The dense foliage provides good cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. It is a larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus) and some Mocker Swallowtails (Papilio dardanus). Its strong scent may deter some herbivores.
Distribution and habitat:
Clausena anisata is widely distributed throughout the eastern and north-eastern parts of South Africa, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and North West provinces. It also extends northwards into Eswatini (Swaziland), Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and widely across tropical Africa. It grows in a variety of habitats, including forest margins, coastal bush, woodlands, savannas, and along riverbanks, preferring relatively moist areas.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Clausena honours P. Clausen, a Danish botanist.
The species epithet anisata is derived from the Greek word 'anisos', meaning 'unequal', referring to the asymmetrical leaflets of the compound leaves.
The common Afrikaans name "Perdepis" (horse pee) refers to the strong, characteristic, somewhat unpleasant, horse-like odour emitted when the leaves are crushed.
"Horsewood" is a direct translation.
"Wild Camphor Bush" refers to its aromatic properties.
Historical aspects:
Clausena anisata has a long and rich history of use in traditional African medicine. Various parts of the plant have been used for centuries to treat a wide array of human and animal ailments, indicating its deep cultural significance. Its strong aroma has also led to its use as an insect repellent and in traditional rituals. Its widespread natural distribution highlights its ecological importance across various African landscapes.
Interesting facts:
This plant has a super unique smell! Crush a leaf, and you'll get a strong, distinctive aroma that some people say smells like horse pee – that's where its Afrikaans name "Perdepis" comes from!
Despite the controversial smell, its small, orange-red berries are actually edible and sweet – a tasty treat for birds and adventurous humans!
It's like a natural pharmacy! Traditional healers use almost every part of this plant to make remedies for everything from colds to malaria.
If you want to attract colourful butterflies to your garden, this is a great choice, as its leaves are a favourite food for some butterfly caterpillars.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Can be propagated from fresh seed, though germination can be slow. Cuttings can also be attempted.
Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Watering: Water regularly, especially when young, and during dry periods. It is moderately drought-tolerant once established but thrives with consistent moisture.
Frost Protection: Sensitive to severe frost. Plant in a sheltered spot in colder areas, or cover young plants during winter.
Maintenance: Low maintenance. Can be pruned to shape or to keep it bushy. It responds well to pruning.
Which is which?
Clausena anisata is often confused with Sneezewood (Ptaeroxylon obliquum)
when not in flower or fruit as the leaves are very similar. The easiest way to tell them apart is by the terminal leaflet... Sneezwood doesn't have one making it paripinnate. Clausena anisata is imparipinnate, meaning the compound leaf ends with a single terminal leaf.
Clausena anisata can also be confused with Hippobromus pauciflorus (False Horsewood), the difference is that the new leaves of the Clausena anisata plants are reddish to brownish, whereas the new leaves of Hippobromus pauciflorus (False Horsewood) are dark green.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Plant type
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)