Family: Rosaceae

Scientific name: Rubus rigidus

Authority: Sm.

Synonyms: Rubus atrocoeruleus Gust., Rubus chrysocarpus Mundt, Rubus discolor E.Mey., Rubus inedulis Rolfe, Rubus mundtii Cham. & Schltdl.

Zulu names: amabhimbi, amajikijolo, ijikijolo, ivendle, ugagane, ulucumence

Other names: wild brumble, white brumble (English) braambos, braambossie (Afrikaans)

Plant description: R. rigidus is a scrambling shrub that can grow to about 4 m in height. It has dark green leaves with 3 to 7 leaflets that are hairy with serrated margins. The flowers are pale pink to purple flowers with sweet edible fruits that turn purple to black when ripe, and a hairy and thorny stem. It is widespread throughout Africa and can be found growing along forest margins, grasslands, wetlands, and the banks of streams.

Uses:

The edible fruits are used to make jam, jelly, syrup, and wine.
The leaves are dried and used to make tea. The leaves are also mixed with other herbs to make different herbal tea blends.
The leaves are soaked in water that is later used to treat an eye infection that is caused by a latex from the Euphorbia tree.
The roots are used to make a decoction that is administered as an emetic, to treat heartburn
The roots are used to decoction that is taken orally to treat complications associated with pregnancy.
The roots are used to facilitate childbirth.
The roots are used to make a decoction that is taken as an enema to treat impotence.
The roots are used in the making of umhlabelo, which is used to speed up bone recovery after it has been fractured or sprained.
The roots are used to treat acute internal body pain.
The roots are used to treat toothache.
The roots are used to make a decoction that is used to treat stomach ache, diarrhoea, and dysentery
The roots are used to manage fits or epilepsy.
The roots are used as isihlungu, to treat snake bites.
The roots are used to make a decoction taken orally to treat cervical cancer.
This plant is used to treat the itchiness of the body.

Safety precaution:

Using traditional medicine responsibly can enhance your overall health and well-being. Misuse and abuse can lead to complications. You can inquire about the correct use of traditional medicine from a knowledgeable herbalist and practitioner. You can also visit imithiyesintu.co.za or email: info@imithiyesintu.co.za to learn more about traditional medicine

References and further reading:

Fox, F.W., and Norwood Young, M.E., 1982. Food from the veld. Delta Books, Johannesburg
Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., and Cunningham, A., 1996. Zulu medicinal plants. Natal University Press, Pietermaritzburg.
Kokwaro, J.O., 1976. Medicinal plants of east Africa. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi.
Mukazayire, M.J., Minani, V., Ruffo, C.K., Bizuru, E., Stévigny, C. and Duez, P., 2011. Traditional phytotherapy remedies used in Southern Rwanda for the treatment of liver diseases. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 138(2), pp.415-431.
Ouma, K.O., 2018. Performance of wild blackberry (Rubus spp.) under conventional production in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Egerton University).
Pooley, E., 2005. A field to wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern regions. Flora and Fauna Publication, Durban.
Walker, J., 1996. Wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal. W.R. Walker Family Trust, Pinetown.
Watt, J.M., and Breyer-Brandwijk, M.G., 1962. Medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa, second edition. Livingstone, London.