Plants of the Week

Withania somnifera

Common names: winter cherry (Eng.); bitterappelliefie, geneesblaarbossie, koorshout (Afr.); bofepha (Sotho); ubuvuma (Xhosa); ubuvimbha (Zulu); ashwagandha (Hindi).

Family: Solanaceae

Fruits of this plant were found in a floral collar of the innermost coffin of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. (Mabberley 2008 : 911)....

05 / 12 / 2011 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Aloe chlorantha

Common names: Fraserburg aloe, green-flower aloe (Eng.); Fraserburgaalwyn (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe chlorantha is a medium-sized aloe from Fraserburg in the Karoo, at once distinguished by its erect solitary inflorescence, up to 1.6 m high,...

12 / 12 / 2011 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Senecio macrocephalus

Common names: ngoakoane-ea-loti, sebea-mollo (South Sotho); ihlaba lenkomo (Xhosa); mountain senecio (Eng.)

Family: Asteraceae

Senecio macrocephalus is one of the first large pink-flowered senecios to flower in the grassveld in early spring and often shows up as large patches...

12 / 12 / 2011 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Barleria senensis

Common names: none recorded

Family: Acanthaceae

A hardy indigenous plant suitable for any sunny spot in your garden....

19 / 12 / 2011 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG

Coleus grandidentatus

Common names: big-teeth coleus, scented-leaf coleus (Eng.); groottandsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

...

19 / 12 / 2011 | Kyle Smith | Kirstenbosch NBG

Citrullus lanatus

Common names: tsamma melon, wild watermelon (Eng.); bitterboela, bitterwaatlemoen, karkoer (Afr.); t'sama (Khoisan); makataan (Tswana)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

...

26 / 12 / 2011 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Lachenalia lutea

Common names: common dwarf yellow viooltjie

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Lachenalia lutea is a heavily sweet-scented indigenous hyacinth with pale to bright yellow flowers....

26 / 12 / 2011 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Coddia rudis

Common names: small bone apple (Eng.); kleinbeenappel (Afr.); umDondwane (Zulu); siKhwakhwane (Siswati); tshinapanapana (Venda)

Family: Rubiaceae

Coddia rudis is usually a short, aromatic, evergreen, dense, multi-stemmed and fairly fast growing shrub....

31 / 12 / 2011 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria

Leucadendron strobilinum

Common names: Peninsula conebush

Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron strobilinum is an eye-catching shrub that is ideal for display in a fynbos garden....

02 / 01 / 2012 | Olivia Tyambetyu | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ruschia maxima

Common names: giant mountain vygie (Eng.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Ruschia maxima is one of the largest species in its genus. It has characteristically larger leaves than most other vygies and is crowned as the giant...

02 / 01 / 2012 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG

Dialium schlechteri

Common names: sherbet tree, zulu podberry (Eng.); zoeloepeulbessie (Afr.); umThiba (Zulu); ensiba (Tsonga); enziva (Ronga)

Family: Fabaceae

This very attractive forest tree, with shiny leaves and mottled white bark, will appeal to every tree lover in South Africa....

09 / 01 / 2012 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Ornithogalum dubium

Common names: yellow chincherinchee (Eng.); geeltjienkerientjee, geeltjienk (Afr.); itsweletswele lasethafeni (Xhosa)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Ornithogalum dubium is a long-blooming, showy plant with beautiful large flowers, ideal for growing in pots, and as a cut flower....

09 / 01 / 2012 | Olivia Tyambetyu | Kirstenbosch NBG

Nerine filifolia

Common names: grass-leaved nerine (Eng.)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

This floriferous summer-growing plant produces delicate, bright pink flowers which bring a magnificent colourful display to your garden towards the end...

16 / 01 / 2012 | Paul Herman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Rhoicissus digitata

Common names: baboon grape (Eng.); bobbejaandruif (Afr.); isiNwazi, umThwazi, umNangwazi, umPhambane (Z); isaQoni, isaQoni esincini (X)

Family: Vitaceae

This member of the grape family is an attractive hardy creeper with shiny three- or five-partite leaves. It is traditionally used to make jam and also...

16 / 01 / 2012 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Scabiosa drakensbergensis

Common names: Drakensberg scabious, pincushion (Eng.); koringblom (Afr.)

Family: Dipsacaceae

A bushy scabiosa with large soft green leaves and beautiful, pure white, ball-like inflorescences with flowers packed tightly at the tips of long delicate...

23 / 01 / 2012 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Tamarix usneoides

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

Leucospermum erubescens

Common names: orange flame pincushion, Langeberg pincushion (Eng.); oranjevlamspeldekussing (Afr.)

Family: Proteaceae

Leucospermum erubescens is an eye-catching shrub that is covered with large, flaming orange pincushions throughout spring and early summer....

30 / 01 / 2012 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Rhigiophyllum squarrosum

Common names: none recorded

Family: Campanulaceae

...

30 / 01 / 2012 | C Cupido | Compton Herbarium

Crassula socialis

Common names: kommadagga crassula (Eng.); aanteelplakkie (Afr.)

Family: Crassulaceae

Crassula socialis is a small attractive succulent plant, especially when the dainty white flowers are present in the spring, and it is a good addition...

06 / 02 / 2012 | James Deacon | Kirstenbosch NBG

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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