The matagallo is a shrub between 0.5 and 2 metres tall, with vertical branches covered in whitish hairs. It has a simple, oval-shaped leaf that narrows at its tip. The flowers grow in clusters around the base and are lilac, white, or pink. It is a very hardy and tolerant plant that will grow in many climatic conditions.
Uses:
The flowers provide us with a sweetish nectar, which is used as a supplement in syrups and cough medicines. The properties of this plant were well-known and used in rural areas for many years.
Thanks to the texture of its leaves and its aroma, it was used as a skin exfoliant and a natural deodorant. It was also used as a scouring pad for washing dishes, a substitute for the paper wicks on oil lamps (candles), and many farmworkers, in the absence of paper, used this plant as toilet paper.
