The fruit, although insipid, is an important item in the diet of certain tribes of bushmen (R. B. Lee, “Subsistence ecology of Kung bushmen”, 1965; B. Magiiire, unpublished thesis, University ofWitwatersrand, 1978). D. chamaethamnus is very closely related to D. batocana. Their geographical ranges overlap slightly, but that of D. chamaethamnus extends much further south. Throughout its range D. chamaethamnus consistently differs from D. batocana in the size and proportions of its flowers and the colour of the indumentum on the flowers and fruit. It seems, however, that D. batocana very locally produces a dwarf shrubby variant which can be confused with D. chamaethamnus. Thus, Mutimushi 3541 (K) from Dambwa Forest Reserve, Livingstone Distr., Zambia, was collected from a 0–6 m. high plant forming small colonies at the margin of a dambo on Kalahari Sand. Although in habit it is closer to D. chamaethamnus, the blackish indumentum, small inconspicuous bracteoles and small shallowly lobed fruiting calyx clearly indicate a close relationship with D. batocana.