Several weeks ago, I met a friend in town for a coffee; he had just returned from a trip to New Zealand to visit his son and his new family. Our meeting was shortly before the restrictions on social mixing had started, but the race for toilet rolls was gathering momentum. He related that there was a plant in NZ with strong, but soft furry leaves known locally as 'The Bushman's Friend' - with an obvious use.
I didn't doubt my friend's story for one moment - he is, after all, a Cambridge educated botanist and he takes his plants very seriously. Then I saw this letter in yesterday's Telegraph -
"SIR – On Sunday’s Gardener’s Question Time, there was a discussion as to whether plants could be used as loo paper. Dock leaves were suggested.
At the Sir Joseph Banks Centre, we have a Brachyglottis repanda. This comes from New Zealand, where the local name is rangiora or pukapuka. Due to its large, soft leaves, it was also known as “Bushman’s toilet paper”.
The whole plant is poisonous, though it is said that a gum obtained from it can be chewed to sweeten the breath."
So, alternatives are available - but just don't use it as a salad ingredient!
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