Plants of the Week

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E.g., 09/12/2024
E.g., 09/12/2024

Rhynchosia caribaea

Rhynchosia caribaea (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: snoutbean (Eng.); rankboontjie (Afr.); monya-mali, monyamadi, morara wa iphepha, morarana-oa-liphepa, thara (Sesotho); isihlahlasenqomfi (isiZulu)
Family: Fabaceae

An indigenous, herbaceous climber; its roots are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and alleviation of headaches....

11 / 09 / 2017 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Rhoicissus tridentata

Rhoicissus tridentata (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: northern Bushman’s grape, bitter grape, wild grape (Eng.); noordelike boesmansdruif, bitterdruif, droog-my-keel, wildedruif (Afr.); isaqoni, umnxeba
Family: Vitaceae

This shrubby climber has many features that make it an ideal garden subject; it is fast growing, hardy, drought tolerant and deciduous, with decorative...

25 / 09 / 2017 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Roosia lucilleae

The large rose-pink flowers of Roosia lucilleae. Note the persistent petals of the old flower.
Common names: Hex River cliff mesemb (Eng.); Heksrivier kransvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

One of two species belonging to the genus Roosia, endemic to sheer, quarzitic, sandstone cliff-faces in the heart of the winter-rainfall region of South...

16 / 10 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Rhizophora mucronata

Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata.
Common names: red mangrove (Eng.); rooiwortelboom (Afr.); umhlume, umngombamkhonto (Zul.); umhluma (Xho.)
Family: Rhizophoraceae

A conical tree with a distinctive root growth and fascinating growing habit, occurring in the tidal estuaries, lagoons and swamps, as a member of a mangrove...

11 / 12 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Raphionacme hirsuta

Raphionacme hirsuta
Common names: false gentian, khadi-root (Eng.); khadiwortel, khadi (Afr.); kherenchane (SSo.); intsema (Xho.); umathangane, umathanjana (Zul.)
Family: Apocynaceae

An attractive, small, summer-growing perennial, with a large, tuberous root and pretty starry flowers in shades of purple, mauve and white, in early summer....

08 / 01 / 2018 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG
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Rhynchosia adenodes

Rhynchosia adenodes (Christeen Grant)
Common names: monyamadi (Sesotho); ungazini (isiZulu)
Family: Fabaceae

A bright yellow-flowered, indigenous, prostrate herb, with long trailing stems; its roots are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism,...

05 / 03 / 2018 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Rhynchosia hirta

Rhynchosia hirta
Common names: blue-seeded snoutbean, hairy snoutbean (Eng.); imbelekisani, iyezalesisu (Xho.)
Family: Fabaceae

A lovely indigenous vine with attractive blue seeds; an alternative to gardeners over exotics....

23 / 04 / 2018 | Thulisile P. Jaca | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Rhynchosia albissima

Rhynchosia albissima
Common names: silver snoutbean
Family: Fabaceae

A bright yellow-flowered, robust and erect indigenous herb, velvety with silvery grey hairs. Its roots are used in traditional medicine to treat male impotence,...

24 / 09 / 2018 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Rhynchosia sublobata

Rhynchosia sublobata
Common names: none
Family: Fabaceae

A yellow-flowered, indigenous African herb, with twining stems and velvety with silvery grey hairs. Its roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine...

23 / 09 / 2019 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Restio similis

Restio similis
Common names: slender blobs (Eng.)
Family: Restionaceae

A compact, medium-sized, reed-like perennial that makes a wonderful border plant, suitable for planting in groups in the fynbos garden....

10 / 02 / 2020 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Rhoicissus rhomboidea

Rhoicissus rhomboidea
Common names: glossy forest grape, glossy wild grape, ropewood (Eng.); blinkblaarbosdruif, bimbrikos, bobbejaantou (Afr.); umbovu (Swa.); tshikundwi-mae (Ven.); umt
Family: Vitaceae

A very adaptable, climbing plant that is suitable for indoors as well as outdoors. It is rather vigorous in its spread and makes a great cover for those...

07 / 09 / 2020 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ruellia cordata

Ruellia cordata
Common names: veld violet (Eng.); grasveldviooltjie (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

Ruellia cordata is known by its softly hairy, greyish leaves and showy pink, purple-blue or white flowers with purple streaks, in spring and early summer;...

11 / 10 / 2021 | Noko Molokomme | Pretoria NBG
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Restio virgeus

Restio virgeus
Common names: twiggy peg-reed
Family: Restionaceae

A small restio forming dense, tangled tufts, with curly branches when young, that straighten out when mature and produce attractive, reddish-brown inflorescences...

11 / 04 / 2022 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ranunculus multifidus

Ranunculus multifidus. Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: wild buttercup, common buttercup, African buttercup (Eng.); botterblom, brandblare, kankerblare, geelbotterblom, rhenoster (Afr.); hlapi (Sesotho); is
Family: Ranunculaceae

Wild Buttercup is a small evergreen herb, with bright green leaves and masses of yellow flowers in summer, that grows well in damp grassland and spreads...

26 / 12 / 2022 | T.T. Masupa | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Roepera flexuosa

Roepera flexuosa
Common names: thin twinleaf (Eng.); spekbossie, spekbroodbossie, maerbossie, skilpadbos, vyfpondbos (Afr.)
Family: Zygophyllaceae

A bright-flowering and hardy small shrub for the fynbos, succulent or semi-succulent garden alike....

04 / 09 / 2023 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ruschia promontorii

Ruschia promontorii in habitat flowering in spring
Common names: Peninsula cliff ruschia (Eng.); Skiereiland-kransvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

The Peninsula cliff ruschia is a mat-forming leaf succulent which becomes pendent on cliffs. It is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, where it grows on sea-facing...

04 / 03 / 2024 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Radinosiphon leptostachya

Radinosiphon leptostachya
Common names: slender-spiked radinosiphon (Eng.); blou angelier (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Radinosiphon leptostachya is a cormous deciduous perennial plant with slender stems and pink flowers in summer, that thrives in rocky environments amongst...

24 / 06 / 2024 | Ziphezinhle Madonsela | Lowveld NBG
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Ruttya fruticosa

Ruttya fruticosa
Common names: jammy mouth, rabbit ears, bunny ears, hummingbird plant, orange bird, orange dragon, monkey face, African azalea (Eng.), jembekkie (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

An attractive, dense, evergreen shrub with glossy light to dark green leaves, covered with an abundance of red to dark orange or yellow, two-lipped, tubular...

15 / 07 / 2024 | Winfred Velephi Ngwenya | Lowveld NBG
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Ranunculus baurii

Common names: Drakensberg buttercup, nasturtium-leaved buttercup, large-leaved ranunculus (Eng.); qojoana (seSotho)
Family: Ranunculaceae

See Peltocalathos baurii...

31 / 07 / 2024 | | Lowveld NBG
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Ruellia patula

Ruellia patula
Common names: white veld violet (Eng); witveldviooltjie (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

A small attractive spreading perennial with stems up to 500 mm long, and white to mauve or purple funnel-shaped flowers in summer. It is easy to grow,...

28 / 10 / 2024 | Thembuluwo Maduwa | Thohoyandou NBG
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