Plants of the Week

Rauvolfia afra

Common names: quinine tree (Eng.); kinaboom (Afr.); umJelo, umThundisa (isiXhosa); umHlambamanzi, umKhadluvungu (isiZulu)

Family: Apocynaceae

A fine, fast-growing tree for sheltered gardens, easily grown from seed and an unusually decorative tree for larger gardens and parks....

| Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

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

Sclerocarya birrea

Common names: marula (Eng.); morula (Northern Sotho); mufula (Tshivenda); ukanyi (Tsonga)

Family: Anacardiaceae

The edible fruits and the multiple uses associated with almost all parts of the marula, make it one of southern Africa's most valued trees....

| Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Pretoria 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

Ximenia afra

Common names: large sourplum (Eng.); grootsuurpruim (Afr.); umThunduluka-obmvu (Zulu); Morokologa (Northern Sotho)

Family: Olacaceae

The large sourplum is a small tree or shrub with many traditional uses and colourful fruit. It is suited to growing in a bush clump or as part of a boundary...

| J K Baloyi | Pretoria NBG

Searsia chirindensis

Common names: red currant (Eng.); bos-taaibos (Afr.); motha-thaa (North Sotho); umhlakothi (Xhosa); inhlokoshiyane enkulu (Xhosa); muvhadela-phanga (Venda)

Family: Anacardiaceae

The red currant, Searsia chirindensis, is an attractive, African tree with lovely reddish autumn foliage. It is common throughout the eastern part...

| Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG

Scilla natalensis

This plant is now called Merwilla plumbea....

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia ataxacantha

See Senegalia ataxacantha...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia erioloba

See Vachellia erioloba...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia xanthophloea

See Vachellia xanthophloea...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia polyacantha

See Senegalia polyacantha...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia tortilis

See Vachellia tortilis...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Calopsis paniculata

See Restio paniculatus....

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Acacia caffra

This tree is now called Senegalia caffra...

| | Walter Sisulu NBG

Berkheya setifera

Common names: buffalo-tongue thistle (Eng.); rasperdissel, rasperdisseldoring (Afr); ikhakhasi, ulimi-lwenkomo, ulimi-lwenyathi (isiZulu); indlebe-lenkomo (isiXhosa

Family: Asteraceae

A robust perennial, with profuse, bright yellow flowers and bristly leaves; one of the 71 species that are found in South Africa out of the 75 species...

| Bathabile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Ximenia americana var. microphylla

Common names: small blue sourplum (Eng.); kleinblousuurpruim (Afr.); ukolotshane, umtunduluka-omncane, umkholotshwana (Zul.);umtfundvuluka, umthunduluka (Swa.); nt

Family: Olacaceae

A spiny shrub of African savannas that bears brightly coloured, edible fruits, and has a long history of medicinal value for traditional healers and western...

| Mpho Mathalauga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Grewia afra

Common names: climbing raisin, yellow starflower (Eng.); rankrosyntjie (Afr); ilalanyathi, umunyumunu, iphata, iklolo, isaka, isilandula (isiZulu); likholo, (siSwat

Family: Malvaceae

A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a climbing habit, often seen sprawling into nearby plants for support. It bears striking, yellow, star-like flowers...

| Robert Jooste | Kirstenbosch NBG

Uvaria afra

Common names: small-fruited cluster-pear, small cluster pear, (Eng.), kleinvrugtrospeer, kleintrospeer (Afr.), idwaba (isiXhosa), inkonjane, umazwenda omnyama, umaz

Family: Annonaceae

...

| Umpha Pharamela | National Herbarium Pretoria

Alepidea macowanii

Common names: Amathole alepidea, MacOwan’s alepidea (Eng.); kalmoes (Afr.); ikhatazo (isiZulu); inkatazo, iqwili (isiXhosa)

Family: Apiaceae

Alepidea macowanii is a robust, perennial herb known for its hollow, grooved, branched stem and thick, aromatic rootstock. It has basal leaves arranged...

| Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG

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