THIS fairly common and widespread shrub is conspicuous from September onwards when covered in sweetly scented star-shaped, mauve, pale blue or white little flowers.
Other typical features are long arching branches and small fleshy berries, which are orange at first, then red and eventually black. Until recently, both these species were known as E. rigida.
However, according to recent taxonomic studies, E. rigida occurs only in South Africa. The most widespread species in Namibia is E. alba with white flowers, while E. namibiensis with lavender blue or pale mauve flowers occurs mainly from about Otjiwarongo northwards up to the Angolan border and to the west of Nkurenkuru.
Names: E also known as Cape lilac or stamperwood; A deurmekaarbos, swartbos; G Bergbast, Bergflieder, Wirrstrauch; H omusepa; N/D horotos; Ky omushadi; Nd oshadi.
The genus was named Ehretia in honour of the 18th century botanical artist, G. H. Ehret; alba refers to the white flowers and namibiensis to that species’ main distribution in Namibia.
The puzzle bush is a many-stemmed shrub to small tree, rarely more than 2-3 m high, with many quite stiff, arching branches. It often has an untidy and angular shape because the branches intertwine (Afr: “deurmekaar”) and because the shrub is much browsed by game and stock. Old trunks are grey and rough, young branches smoothly grey. The simple leaves taper narrowly to the short leaf-stalk (2 mm and less) and taper widely towards the tips. They are clustered on dwarf shoots or alternate and somewhat larger on new shoots. Leaf size is very variable. Most of the leaves fall during winter and new leaves appear while the shrub is flowering.
Ripe berries are not often found because they are eagerly eaten by various birds (crested francolin, guinea fowl, grey louries, yellowbilled hornbill, black-eyed bulbuls and starlings). They are edible, the tastiness apparently differing from shrub to shrub, some quite sweet, others sour or bitter.
Uses: hunting bows, fishing baskets, assegai handles and wooden pestles (stampers) are made out of the tough, flexible wood. It is often used as the twirling stick for making fire by friction. The shrub is said to have magical qualities and its branches are used as hunting charms. A twig pointed in the direction of a hunted animal is thought to weaken it. It is believed that a wild ox will become tame if kept in a kraal, the gate of which is made of puzzle bush twigs. The twigs are used in rainmaking ceremonies and a branch dragged around houses and gardens is believed to keep away threatening hailstorms.
Medicinal: The powdered root is strewn into cuts over the chest and the abdomen to alleviate pain and it is used to treat gall-sickness in cattle.
Gardening: The puzzle bush makes a charming garden shrub, attracting bees, insects and birds. Easily raised from seed, it grows in full sun, is very drought and frost-resistant can be pruned into a neat shape or a hedge. It even makes a hardy and very attractive container plant. Seedlings are available form the nursery of the National Botanical Research Institute, Contact No: 061 202 2014.
