Van der Stel in 1685 called it "Rinocerbosch ... so genaamt omdat de Zelve daar gemeenelyk in legeren" It is not known whether rhinoceros really do eat renosterbos.

Large numbers of inconspicuous flowerheads are borne towards the ends of the twigs. When the seeds are shed, the pale brown chaffy bracts around each flowerhead open up to give the plant a brownish, fluffy appearance.