''Noltea'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants. The single species, ''Noltea africana'' (commonly known as the soap bush or soap dogwood), is a small, bushy tree of about 4 metres that is endemic to the southern Cape of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

, where it grows beside rivers and in pockets of afro-montane forest. It has small, white, mildly fragrant flowers and when it grows larger it assumes a willow shape, with slightly weeping branches. The leaves are long and serrated and the young growth is purple in colour. The foliage of the "soap bush" can be used to produce a soapy lather for cleaning, and this tree also conveniently tends to grow near lakes and rivers.Johnson, D. and S. Johnson. (2002).
Down to Earth: Gardening with Indigenous Trees.
' Struik.

References

Rhamnaceae Rhamnaceae genera Monotypic Rosales genera Afromontane flora Trees of South Africa Saponaceous plants {{Rhamnaceae-stub