Dreams and butterflies

Learn about our natural heritage and the links between cultural and biological diversity

historical aspects

Helinus derives from elinus meaning a twiner and integrifolius means the leaves with smooth unbroken margins. Ubulawu derives from ukulawula, meaning to interpret dreams. Ubhubhubhu means quick, fast, or in the shortest possible time, and refers to the rapid action of the medicine in overpowering harmful medicines or witchcraft.

Ecology

Helinus integrifolius is host plant for butterfly larvae.

Uses and cultural aspects

Used as ritual body wash and an emetic and believed to bring good luck and positive results in court cases, exams, competitions, etc. It is an ubulawu (dream-inducing) plant used by some clans in rituals to facilitate communication with ancestors.

How to grow climbers

Helinus integrifolius

is climber. Climbers are spectacularly showy but surprisingly low maintenance, provide simple landscape solutions to a range of garden problems and are particularly useful in small spaces. Use them to soften a bare wall or cover a plain fence, creating a view where none exists such as in a courtyard or at the side of a house.

Read more about the climbers:

www.handyman. net.au/how-grow-climbers

References and further reading

Dold, T., Cocks, M. 2012. Voices from the Forest, Celebrating Nature and Culture in Xhosaland. Jacana Media, Sunnyside, Auckland Park, South Africa.

Pooley, E. 2005. A Field Guide to Wild Flowers, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. The Flora Publications

Trust, c/o Natal Herbarium, Botanical Gardens Road, Durban 4001.