Noltea

Noltea is a monotypic genus of flowering plants. The single species, Noltea africana (commonly known as the soap bush or soap dogwood), is a small, bushy tree of about 4 metres that is endemic to the southern Cape of South Africa, where it grows beside rivers and in pockets of afro-montane forest. It has small, white, mildly fragrant flowers and when it grows larger it assumes a willow shape, with slightly weeping branches. The leaves are long and serrated and the young growth is purple in colour.

Noltea
Detail of foliage of the Soap Bush
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Tribe:	Phyliceae
Genus:	Noltea Rchb.
Species:	N. africana
Binomial name
Noltea africana (L.) Endl.[1]

The foliage of the "soap bush" can be used to produce a soapy lather for cleaning, and this tree also conveniently tends to grow near lakes and rivers.[2][3]

References

1. Goldblatt, P., et al. (2008). Cape Plants: Corrections & Additions to the Flora. 30.
2. "New Plant Nursery". Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
3. Johnson, D. and S. Johnson. (2002). Down to Earth: Gardening with Indigenous Trees. Struik.