Hermannia saccifera is fairly widespread along the southern coast of South Africa, where it occurs on stony clay slopes from the Riviersonderend mountains and Bredasdorp in the Western Cape to Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape. In its natural habitat the plant is a low sprawling strangling shrublet to 400 mm, however in cultivation, although still a sprawler, it maintains a very compact habit, rarely exceeding 100 mm in height.The leaves are smooth, hairless, shiny, regularly toothed and bright green in colour. The flowers, usually 2 per peduncle, are bright yellow, pendulous, bell-shaped and cover the plant during spring (August to October) making quite a show.

Hermannia saccifera was first described in 1858 as Mahernia saccifera by Turczanimow. It was later transferred to the genus Hermannia, by K. Schuman. Hermannia is named after Paul Herman (1640-1695), German professor of botany at Leyden and one of the first travellers and collectors at the Cape, while Mahernia is an anagram of Hermannia, although missing one of the n's, and has no significance other than that. The specific name saccifera is Latin and loosely translated means carrying or bearing a bag. It is known locally as the komynbossie (cumin bush), and honey made from the nectar is known as komynheuning (cumin honey), presumably because the flavour it gives the honey is reminiscent of cumin.

Growing Hermannia saccifera

Hermannia saccifera is a medium to fast growing, evergreen, prostrate, mat-forming herbaceous perennial. It is best on a slope in a sunny position, in a neutral, well-drained, sandy loam soil. A single plant can be expected to cover one square meter in a year. Hermannia saccifera is wind tolerant, but is sensitive to frost and requires protection in the colder regions of South Africa. It also qualifies as a water-wise (drought tolerant) plant, and when established tolerates the winter rainfall - summer drought conditions in the Western Cape very well, but does require at least a weekly watering in summer. It has no major pests or diseases, and can be pruned to shape as required.

Hermannia saccifera can be used as a groundcover, a container plant, or a hanging basket plant, and is suitable for coastal gardens. It works particularly well as a groundcover on a slope, hanging over a wall, in a rockery, or in terraforce walls.

Propagation is by seed or cuttings, but seed grown plants appear to make stronger plants and are quicker to establish themselves when planted out than those produced by cuttings. Seed is best sown in late summer to autumn, or in spring. The seedlings should emerge within 10 days and can be pricked out when large enough to handle. Softwood or herbaceous cuttings should be taken from a vigorous actively growing mother plant in spring to early summer, treated with a rooting hormone, and placed in a propagation unit with bottom heat of up to 28C (80F) and intermittent mist. Rooting should occur within 4 weeks, with a 40% success rate.

There are about 180 species of Hermannia, approximately 162 of which occur in southern Africa and 11 in tropical Africa with 30 southern African species that extend their ranges into tropical Africa. There are only 3 species in America and 1 or more in Australia.

References:

• Saunders, R. 1987, A plant worth cultivating - Hermannia saccifera, Veld & Flora, Volume 73(1):24-25
• Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J., 2000, Cape Plants, A Conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa, NBI, Pretoria & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Missouri
• Smith, C.A., 1699, Common Names of South African Plants, Dept. of Agricultural Technical Services, Botanical Survey Memoir No 35, Government Printer.
• Jackson, W.P.U., 1990, Origins and Meanings of Names of South African Plant Genera, U.C.T. Printing Dept., Cape Town.
• Kirstenbosch Horticultural Notes
• Leistner, O.A. (ed.), 2000, Seed plants of southern Africa: families and genera, Strelitzia 10., National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Authors: Bernard Brown and Alice Notten
Kirstenbosch NBG
August 2001