The meidebos  or swaelbossie in Afrikaans is valued as a palatable grazing plant of the Karoo and more widely. This plant also grows in the south of Namibia. 

More than 160 Hermannia species occur in southern Africa, whilst the genus is also represented in Australia and America. The genus belongs in the Malvaceae family, previously in Byttneriaceae and Sterculiaceae respectively.