Umsuzwane (Lippia javanica)

Umsuzwane (Lippia javanica), also known as Lemon bush, grows in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya.

It currently does not have a BMP and is not listed on CITES and does not have an NDF. The SANBI Red List indicates that a 2017 resource assessment assigned a status of least concern. The species is drought resistant and has no serious insect or disease problems or other threats that might increase its vulnerability should it be harvested for the use in biotrade.

Sustainable use

Companies using the natural Umsuzwane resource have developed sustainable cultivation protocols and SAEOPA developed wild harvesting guidelines in 2013. However, very little wild harvesting is taking place. Cultivation guidelines (2010) for the product have been developed and published by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). There is potential for more large-scale wild harvesting since the resource occurs in abundance in the Eastern Cape and in certain parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.