Rural communities’ perception on <i>Monsonia angustifolia</i> E. Mey. ex. A. Rich.: its value, benefits and uses in South Africa

Background: South Africa is endowed with an abundance of diverse medicinal plant species and in the Limpopo Province, Bapedi people continue to use Monsonia angustifolia as a tea and herb to cure ailments such as fertility problems in both women and men by traditional healers.Objective: There is a need to document rural communities' perspective on the value, benefits and uses of M. angustifolia and further assess its commercialisation potential.Methods: A study was conducted in three study areas namely Botlokwa and Zebediela situated in Capricorn district and Mohlalaotwane in Sekhukhune district in the province.The study utilised phenomenography as a design and 31 participants were recruited from each of the three study arears for individual interviews and six to ten for focus group discussions.Descriptive statistics and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were used for data analysis.Results: Majority of participants were unemployed youths (21-40 years) (71%) and adult male farm workers (29%).Monsonia angustifolia is highly valued and used mostly by traditional healers, men of all ages and in church especially as herbal tea to help with issues of fertility.The herbal tea was noted to have many therapeutic properties but has not yet been formally commercialised.Conclusion: Sale of M. angustifolia as herbal tea to stimulate male and female libido is on the increase and might lead to unsustainable harvesting of wild plant populations if proper conservation strategies are not implemented and the environmental laws are not adhered to by community members or implemented by the local authorities.