It is restricted in the wild to South Africa's Western Cape province, where it grows in thickets along the banks of streams.

It is a bushy small tree with branches widely at ground level and numerous erect vigorous stems.

Leaves grow up to 6 in (15 cm) long, narrow and bluntly toothed, appear at intervals along the branches, mostly in whorls of 6.

In summer, the plant bears white flowers densely crowded on spikes arising from rusty buds at the leaf axils.

The nut is too bitter to eat; however, in earlier times it was boiled, roasted, and ground to make a "coffee" drink.

[3] The origin of the tree's genus name is uncertain, but its species name "stellatifolium" (meaning "star-leaved" or "stellate-leaved") is a reference to the star-shaped whorls in which its leaves grow.

The young fruits are an attractive magenta or lilac-purple colour and mature to the typical brown later in the summer.

They prefer moist areas, and commonly occur near streams in sheltered gorges and on lower mountain slopes.

In Cape Town they are still abundant on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, although at one time large numbers were felled in this area to make way for commercial pine plantations.

Ensure that the seedlings get sufficient water in their first few years, preferably by planting them in a damp, shady area like a river bank.