About Noltea africana (L.) Endl.
Noltea is a monotypic genus of flowering plants, meaning it contains only one species: Noltea africana. This species is commonly called soap bush or soap dogwood. It is a small bushy tree that grows to around 4 metres tall, and is endemic to the southern Cape of South Africa. In its native range, it grows alongside rivers and in small pockets of afro-montane forest. It produces small, white, mildly fragrant flowers. When the tree grows larger, it takes on a willow-like shape with slightly weeping branches. Its leaves are long and serrated, and new young growth has a purple colour. As the common name soap bush suggests, its foliage can be used to produce a soapy lather for cleaning. The tree also typically grows near lakes and rivers.
