Agt-dae-geneesbossie (eight-days-to-heal-bush) is a shrub from the Borage family and is used for traditional healing purposes. An ointment made from the leaves is said to heal sores within eight days and a tea made from the leaves is a cure for ringworm.

There are 28 Lobostemom species endemic to the Western Cape. Our L. montanus grows along the coast from Cape Peninsula to Onrust. In spring the blue flowers can be seen along the R44 from Gordon’s Bay, flowering amongst the pink pelargonium. Hikers observe them on Rooiels Mountain and amongst the thick coastal scrub. Its thick hairy leaves help protect the plant from the damaging sea wind coming over False Bay.

The flowers attract bees. In the Rooiels Reserve the Orange breasted sunbird, the Lesser double-collared sunbird and the Cape sugarbird have been observed feeding on the nectar, while baboons eat the flowers.

L montanus reseed after a veldfire.

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