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Ballota africana

Common names: cat herb, Cape horehound (Eng.); kattekruie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A popular herb in the Cape, Ballota africana is easy to identify by its soft-grey, aromatic foliage and old brown calyces that remain long after the flowers...

| Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Barleria greenii

Common names: wild bush petunia, Green's barleria

Family: Acanthaceae

Barleria greenii is a striking and highly habitat-specific shrub, known for its large pink to white flowers that bloom in summer and release their sweet...

| Lungisani Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Brackenridgea zanguebarica

Common names: yellow peeling plane (Eng.); geellekkerbreek (Afr.); mutavhatsindi (Ven.)

Family: Ochnaceae

The yellow peeling plane, better known as mutavhatsindi, is one of the most sought-after trees in South Africa, particularly within the Vhembe District...

| Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG

Greyia

Common names: wild bottlebrushes

Family: Melianthaceae

This genus occurs only in South Africa, and consists of 3 species, all small trees or shrubs. The three species have a number of common names...

| F Nonyane | National Herbarium Pretoria

Greyia sutherlandii

Common names: glossy bottlebrush, mountain bottlebrush, Natal bottlebrush, wild bottlebrush, beacon tree (Eng.); blinkblaarbaakhout, Natalse baakhout (Afr.); isidw

Family: Melianthaceae

This is a most decorative plant and is becoming popular as an ornamental subject in gardens....

| Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Lachenalia mathewsii

Common names: Vredenberg lachenalia, Mathews' lachenalia (Eng.); geelviooltjie (Afr.)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Lachenalia mathewsii is an attractive, deciduous, winter-growing bulb, standing 10-20 cm tall....

| Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Pachypodium

Common names: P. baronii var. windsorii : none; P. * bispinosum : bobbejaankos, kragman, sterkman, kamoa (Afr.); P. densiflorum var. densiflorum, P. geayi, P. horom

Family: Apocynaceae

Pachypodiums are caudiciform succulents and many of the species produce spectacular flowers. They exhibit a wide range of bizarre growth forms, from bottle-,...

| Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria

Rhodocoma capensis

Common names: mare's tail rhodocoma (Eng.); katstertkanet, litjieskanet (Afr.)

Family: Restionaceae

A very elegant reed-like plant with slightly arching branches which have whorls of finely divided, feathery looking foliage. This species can be grown...

| Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Rhodocoma foliosa

Common names: Mikado stems, leafy rhodocoma (Eng.); kort-Langebergriet (Afr.)

Family: Restionaceae

This is an unusual member of the reed family with lots of fine 'leafy' parts shoots and decorative, arching stems, suitable for planting in groups...

| Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Trichodiadema pygmaeum

Common names: pygmy diadem vygie (Eng.); kareemoer vygie, perdevygie, donkievygie, doringkroon vygie (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Trichodiadema pygmaeum is a lovely dwarf succulent shrub with pretty pink flowers and hairy leaves. It is suitable for growing in a rockery and since...

| Olivia Tyambetyu | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership