Limpopo residents seek to benefit from indigenous, rare flower

Residents of Leolo and Roosenekal in Limpopo want to benefit from the indigenous and rare yellow arum Lilly flower. The flower is protected by the South African Biodiversity Institute.

The Institute has strict rules on how the flower should be harvested to prevent it from going extinct.  Small businesses who harvest it, sell it at high prices at various markets.

The Limpopo Department of Environment and Tourism hold an annual festival to celebrate the flower.

Residents say they also want to get involved in harvesting and selling the flower.

“I grew up seeing this flower, many people buy it but we don’t know how to go about selling it. What we know about this flower is that it is being used to make medicine, some people use it for decoration.”