Plants of the Week

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Tulista pumila

Tulista pumila
Common names: miniature aloe, pearl plant (Eng.); vratjiesaalwyn, kleinaalwyn, seepaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This water-wise, small aloe-like plant with warty white tubercles on the leaves makes a very interesting coffee table plant. It was previously known as...

28 / 07 / 2003 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Tabernaemontana elegans

Tabernaemontana elegans tree
Common names: toad tree (Eng.); laeveldse paddaboom (Afr.); umKhahlwana, umKhadlu (Zulu); muchanga (Shona)
Family: Apocynaceae

Tabernaemontana elegans is a beautiful bushveld tree that can be recognised by its large, glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers and large fruit borne...

06 / 09 / 2010 | M Cheek | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Tabernaemontana ventricosa

Fruits of T.ventricosa
Common names: forest toad tree (Eng; bospaddaboom (Afr.); uKhamamasane (Zulu)
Family: Apocynaceae

This tree, with its unusual fruits, is excellent for gardeners wanting to bring nature back into their garden — it attracts birds, insects and small...

17 / 01 / 2005 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Tamarix usneoides

Tamarix usneoides tree © Henry Brisse
Common names: wild tamarix, dabbie, daweb (Eng.); abiekwasgeelhout, dabbie, dabees, dawee, daweep, dawib, dawip, soutboom (Afr.)
Family: Tamaricaceae

Tamarix usneoides is an evergreen shrubby tree of semideserts and karooid areas, with short scaly trunk, leafy branches usually extending from ground...

23 / 01 / 2012 | Nonkululo Phephu | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tapinanthus oleifolius

Tapinanthus oleifolius in flower.  Image copyright L J Musselman
Common names: lighting matches, mistletoe (Eng.); voëlent, vuurhoutjie (Afr.); boletswa (Northern Sotho); nzunzu ( Venda )
Family: Loranthaceae

Tapinanthus oleifolius is one of the best known of the evergreen half-parasitic shrubs growing on other trees and shrubs. The sticky seeds are deposited...

26 / 09 / 2005 | Cathbert Makgakga | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tapinanthus rubromarginatus

Tapinanthus rubromarginatus
Common names: red mistletoe, bird lime, lighted candles; voelent, vuurhoutijies (A)
Family: Loranthaceae

This is a semi-parasitic aerial shrub with specialized roots called haustoria that grow into the wood of the host plant and extracts oil minerals...

24 / 09 / 2001 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Tarchonanthus trilobus var. trilobus

Leaves and male flowers
Common names: three-lobed tarchonanthus, three-lobed camphor bush, trident camphor bush ( Eng. ), drietandkanferbos (Afr.), isiMemela, iGqeba-lamatshe (Xhosa), isiD
Family: Asteraceae

Tarchonanthus trilobus var. trilobus is a shapely, small, evergreen tree with decorative, aromatic foliage, well-suited to today's smaller...

24 / 09 / 2007 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tarchonanthus camphoratus

Tarchonanthus camphoratus
Common names: camphor bush (E), moologa (V), mofahlana (S.Sotho), igqeba emlimhlophe (Z), wildekanferbos (A), mofathla (T)
Family: Asteraceae

This interesting small tree with its attractive grey foliage is particularly suited to tough conditions. It was a very variable and widespread species...

27 / 05 / 2002 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Tarchonanthus littoralis

Woolly seedheads
Common names: coastal camphor bush ( Eng. ); kuskanferbos (Afr.); isiduli selindle (Xhosa); igqeba-elimhlophe, isidulu-sehlathi (Zulu)
Family: Asteraceae

For a small evergreen tree that will thrive in windy, coastal conditions, through drought, and in nutrient-poor, sandy soil, look no further than Tarchonanthus...

07 / 04 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tavaresia barklyi

Tavaresia flower. Copyright: L. Viljoen
Common names: Devil's trumpet (E); bergghaap, katstert (A); olukatai (Ndonga, Ovamboland, northern Namibia); okukato lekadi, olukato lendume (Kwanyama, Ovamboland,
Family: Apocynaceae

The neat appearance of the ribbed stems furnished with bristles at first reminds one of a cactus, but when the bizarre trumpet-shaped flowers appear, one...

06 / 12 / 2010 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tecomaria capensis

Tecomaria capensis
Common names: Cape honeysuckle, tecomaria (Eng.); Kaapse kanferfoelie, trompetters (Afr.); malangula (Swazi); umsilingi, icakatha (Xhosa); lungana, incwincwi, uchac
Family: Bignoniaceae

...

23 / 04 / 2001 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Tephrosia kraussiana

Tephrosia kraussiana in habitat
Common names: inSangwana (isiZulu); isiPhungo (isiZulu: smelling)
Family: Fabaceae

Tephrosia kraussiana is relatively easy to cultivate. Its pinkish-purple flowers will add colour to gardens....

05 / 03 / 2012 | Anisha Dayaram | TSP
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Terminalia sericea

Terminalia sericea
Common names: mususu (Venda); silver cluster-leaf or silver terminalia (Eng.); vaalboom (Afr.)
Family: Combretaceae

Terminalia sericea is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree which grows up to 9 m, but individual trees can reach 23 m in height....

06 / 02 / 2012 | T.T. Masupa | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tetradenia riparia

Tetradenia riparia
Common names: misty plume bush, ginger bush (English); gemmerbos, watersalie (Afrikaans); iboza, ibozane (Zulu)
Family: Lamiaceae

An encounter with Tetradenia riparia in flower in the wintry, dry bush is most surprising. There is the impression of soft lilac mist on bare...

25 / 06 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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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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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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