[3] The vegetative parts are very toxic, as with other Melianthus species, and extracts of the leaves and stem have anti-bacterial properties.

[4] It is native to South Africa, western Lesotho and southern Namibia, where it occurs from 400 to 2,000 m above sea level.

[2] In South Africa it occurs in the greater part of the Cape and Free State provinces, and locally in North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

The flowers which produce copious black nectar[note 1] are zygomorphic in shape, and green to pale pink in colour.

A flower produces an average of 42 μl of nectar a day, with a 10% sugar content, which has been described as a "rich black honey" that almost fills the cup.