A mainly wintergrowing plant that occurs in South Africa. The stem of this species can reach 50 cm in length. It has rectangular narrow-oblanceolate leaves with a conspicuous hair cover, has glandular hairs at the upper end of the scape and is notoriously hard to grow. Inflorescence axillary, near the apex of the stem, up to 25 cm.; scape leafless, forked or branched above, pedicels c. 5 mm; flowers up to 30. Calyx-lobes c. 6 mm. Petals obovate-cuneate, up to 15 mm. long, magenta. Stamens short, with the locules divergent between the rhomboidal connective. Styles forked from the base, the stigmatic arms distended apically and sometimes splitting. Capsule oblong in outline; seeds fusiform, brownish, 0.4 mm. long with a beaded pattern.

Antiinflammatory, antiprostaglandin, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitussive, bronchospasmolytic, cytostatic, immunostimulant and secretolytic (plant)

D.ramentacea

The plant is useful in treating asthma, bronchosis, corns, cough, cramps, inflammations, respiratory diseases and warts.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 706, CRC Press July 2002.