Plants of the Week

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E.g., 19/09/2024
E.g., 19/09/2024

Tetragonia decumbens

Flowers,stems and leaves
Common names: dune spinach (Eng.); duinespinasie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

This widespread dune plant is edible and also performs an important role in stabilizing the sand, enabling the dune to develop into a friendly environment...

12 / 04 / 2004 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG
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Thamnochortus fraternus

Thamnochortus fratenus
Common names: dune thatching reed
Family: Restionaceae

This is a striking and attractive grass-like member of the large restio family. The plants are very uniform in height and the floral bracts are a rich...

08 / 04 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus cinereus

Female plant in flower
Common names: silver restio (Eng.); silwerriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This is a medium to tall plant, which can be used equally well in a border or as an accent plant. The plants are very decorative with silvery foliage like...

31 / 05 / 2004 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus bachmannii

Thamnochortus bachmannii
Common names: Namaqua thatching reed, steenbok reed (Eng.); steenboksriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

Eye-catching bronze-brown flowerheads nod in the breeze as the sun sets over the distant mountains-they capture the rays and turn them into a fire dance....

08 / 05 / 2006 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tylecodon ectypus

Tylecodon ectypus in habitat
Common names: Steinkopf tylecodon (Eng.); Steinkopf krimpsiektebossie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

A recently described, rare, dwarf, succulent geophyte from the Richtersveld, Northern Cape. Plants are solitary or in small clusters, with a sparingly...

16 / 01 / 2023 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus insignis

Thamnochortus insignis, male plant.
Common names: Albertinia thatching reed (Eng.); dekriet, mannetjiesriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

A stunning accent plant with its slender stems tipped with small, golden-brown inflorescences in late summer, and water-wise too!...

16 / 04 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus lucens

Thamnochortus lucens male
Common names: jackal-tail restio (Eng.); jakkalsstert (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This perennial dwarf restio is a plant that will add some dazzle to your garden. The inflorescences are a shiny bronze colour, guaranteed to catch your...

02 / 03 / 2009 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Themeda triandra

Rooigras grasslands
Common names: red grass (Eng.); rooigras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

This is a lovely green to blue-green tufted grass that is often flushed with pink and turns red with age. Some forms have bright yellow culms (stems)....

12 / 04 / 2004 | L Fish | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Thorncroftia longiflora

Shrub in flower
Common names: None found
Family: Lamiaceae

Thorncroftia longiflora is both rare and remarkable. It is a versatile and attractive semi-succulent shrub which makes an excellent and showy garden...

13 / 05 / 2013 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thorncroftia succulenta

Thorncroftia succulenta shrub
Common names: rock sage (Eng.) ; klipsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Thorncroftia succulenta is a versatile and attractive semi-succulent shrub which makes an excellent and showy garden subject, well suited for hot...

02 / 07 / 2012 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thunbergia alata

Thunbergia alata
Common names: black-eyed susan (Eng.); swartoognooi (Afr.) ; isiPhondo (Zulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

In much of the warmer world, Thunbergia alata, or black-eyed susan, is well known as a fast-growing, long-flowering, friendly creeper. In South Africa...

15 / 01 / 2007 | S Smithies | Pretoria NBG
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Thunbergia natalensis

Thunbergia natalensis
Common names: dwarf thunbergia, Natal blue thunbergia, Natal blue-bell (English); dwergthunbergia (Afrikaans); unohlonishwayo (Zulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

Thunbergia natalensis is a popular, fast growing garden plant. occurs naturally along forest margins, in bush and in grassland. It occurs in...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Tinnea barbata

Tinnea barbata
Common names: bush violet, blue tinnea
Family: Lamiaceae

This superb little shrub is related to salvias. The delicate deep purple-blue flowers dangling from erect branches like little ornaments are this shrub's...

19 / 05 / 2003 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tinospora fragosa

Tinospora fragosa
Common names: Aaron's rod, wonder plant (Eng.); Aaron-se-staf, wonderplant (Afr.)
Family: Menispermaceae

Tinospora fragosa is an amazing and peculiar succulent-stemmed twiner with attractive heart-shaped leaves and red fruits. It is easily grown and thrives...

21 / 04 / 2003 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trachyandra ciliata

Trachyandra ciliata flowering stalks
Common names: hotnotskool, veldkool, wildeblomkool (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Trachyandra ciliata is a common, seasonal herb that is best known for its edible flower buds....

24 / 08 / 2009 | S Boatwright | Compton Herbarium
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Trema orientalis

Trema orientalis
Common names: trema, pigeon wood (Eng.); hophout (Afr.); umVumvu, umVangazi, uPhakane (Xhosa); umSekeseke, umBhangabhanga, ifamu, iphubane, isikhwelamfene, ubathini
Family: Cannabaceae

Trema orientalis is a fast-growing shade tree with soft foliage, best suited to gardens and streets in the warmer and wetter regions of southern Africa...

18 / 04 / 2005 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trianoptiles

Trianoptiles solitaria leaves.  Photo Dr M. Muasya
Common names: sedges (Eng.); biesies (Afr.)
Family: Cyperaceae

Trianoptiles is a tiny genus of three species, two of which are highly threatened in their natural habitat. Despite being on the brink of extinction...

07 / 07 / 2008 | Caitlin Von Witt | CREW
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Trichilia dregeana

Large specimen of Trichilia dregeana, with dark foliage
Common names: forest mahogany, forest Natal-mahogany, Cape mahogany, thunder tree, Christmas bells, red ash (Eng.); rooiessenhout, bosrooiessenhout, basteressenhout
Family: Meliaceae

Trichilia dregeana is a lovely large tree that inhabits evergreen forests in high rainfall areas. It is a highly ornamental species with considerable cultural...

13 / 12 / 2004 | Jan-Hakon Burring | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trichilia emetica

Trichilia emtica fruits.Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: Natal mahogany; rooiessenhout (Afr.); mamba (Northern Sotho); umathunzini (isiZulu); umkuhlu (SiSwati); umkhuhlu (isiXhosa); nkulu (Xitsonga); mutuhu
Family: Meliaceae

The Natal mahogany is an evergreen tree with handsome dark green glossy leaves and a wide-spreading crown. Its sweet-scented flowers will attract bees...

28 / 04 / 2014 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Trichocladus grandiflorus

Trichocladus grandiflorus flower
Common names: honeysuckle tree; wild peach, green hazel, green witch-hazel (Eng.); rooihout, groenhaselaar (Afr.); ugabavu (Swazi)
Family: Hamamelidaceae

Trichocladus grandiflorus is a most handsome and easily cultivated ornamental tree, well deserving of a place in any garden, yet it remains as little...

13 / 07 / 2009 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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