Plants of the Week

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Drosera pauciflora

Flower
Common names: sundew (Eng.); sondouw, vlieë vangertjie (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

Drosera pauciflora is another large-flowered, winter-growing carnivorous plant from South Africa....

29 / 10 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Moraea loubseri

Moraea loubseri
Common names: None recorded
Family: Iridaceae

Moraea loubseri is a beautiful cormous plant from the Cape West Coast with violet-mauve blooms adorned with a prominent black beard. It is one of...

22 / 10 / 2012 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Eriocephalus

Eriocephalus
Common names: wild rosemary (Eng.); kapokbos, wilderoosmaryn (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Highly aromatic shrubs which are most distinctive when covered in fluffy white fruiting heads from late spring to early summer. Thus the vernacular name, kapokbos (Afrikaans...

22 / 10 / 2012 | B Busch | Compton Herbarium
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Lachenalia neilii

Close up of flower
Common names: kleuterviooltjie (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Lachenalia neilii is a bulb endemic to the Bokkeveld Plateau and grows in heavy doleritic clay....

15 / 10 / 2012 | Eugene Marinus | Hantam NBG
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Felicia dubia

Felicia dubia
Common names: dwarf felicia (Eng.); saambreeltjies (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

The blue and yellow dwarf felicia is one of the many annuals turning Namaqualand into such a kaleidoscope of colours during winter and spring....

15 / 10 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Nemesia strumosa

Nemesia strumosa
Common names: nemesia (Eng.), balsa mienie, leeubekkie, rooileeubekkie (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

This striking annual comes in yellow, orange, pink, cream, red, mauve or white, and on its own it is capable of creating a riot of colours so typical of...

08 / 10 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dovyalis rhamnoides

Dovyalis rhamnoides showing spines and male flowers
Common names: common sourberry (Eng.); gewone suurbessie (Afr.); ukhamgwindi (Zulu); umqaqoba (Xhosa)
Family: Salicaceae

This is a spiny, evergreen shrub or tree bearing edible fruit. It is easily cultivated and attracts birds to the garden....

08 / 10 / 2012 | C Mudau | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Drosera cistiflora

Form from Niewoudtville
Common names: poppy-flowered sundew (Eng.);doublom, snotrosie (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

The magnificent flower, colour and variety of Drosera cistiflora will captivate any carnivorous plant enthusiast....

01 / 10 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aristea ecklonii

Flowers
Common names: blue stars (Eng.); blousterre (Afr.); umhushuza (IsiZulu)
Family: Iridaceae

Aristea ecklonii is an indigenous, evergreen perennial with attractive, blue, star-like flowers that make quite a show in early summer and late spring....

01 / 10 / 2012 | Sthembile Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Leucadendron discolor

Flower head of male plant
Common names: Piketberg conebush, gold flame tips, red conebush (Eng.); rooi-tolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

For most of the year Leucadendron discolor is a grey-green filler, best planted towards the back of the shrubbery. During spring it comes alive with colour...

24 / 09 / 2012 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Croton pseudopulchellus

Flowers and leaves
Common names: small lavender fever-berry (Eng.); kleinlaventelkoorsbessie, sandkoorsbessie (Afr.); uHubeshane (isiZulu)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A pale white/yellow-flowered, shrubby, perennial plant with a sweet smell that attracts many insects....

24 / 09 / 2012 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Watsonia latifolia

Flowers
Common names: broad-leaved watsonia (Eng.); sidvwa (siSwati)
Family: Iridaceae

This is an attractive plant with very showy maroon-red flowers that make it stand out on hillsides where it grows amongst rocks....

17 / 09 / 2012 | Mkhipheni Ngwenya | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Aloe greenii

Aloe greenii
Common names: ground spotted aloe (Eng.); iCeza lesikhotha (isiZulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe greenii is an excellent rockery plant and makes a good display pot plant in the shade. It has an impressive pink inflorescence that attracts sunbirds....

17 / 09 / 2012 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Grewia bicolor

Grewia bicolor leaf and flower.  Image Geoff Nichols
Common names: white raisin (Eng.); witrosyntjie (Afr.); umsiphane (Swazi); nsihana, guguna, nsihani (Tsonga); mogwane (Tswana); murabva (Venda); umlalampunzi, imdli
Family: Malvaceae

The bicoloured-leaved Grewia bicolor has beautiful, bright yellow flowers. It is a frost-resistant, hardy shrub or small tree that is adaptable...

10 / 09 / 2012 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Drosera aliciae

Rosettes of Drosera aliciae
Common names: shepherd's crook sundew, alice sundew (Eng.); sondou (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

Drosera aliciae, with its interesting mounding habit and its long-lived nature, is a wonderful carnivorous plant and is endemic to South Africa....

10 / 09 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Watsonia mtamvunae

Photo Tony Abbott
Common names: Umtamvuna watsonia
Family: Iridaceae

...

03 / 09 / 2012 | N Petela | CREW
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Agathosma cerefolium

In flower
Common names: coast anise buchu (Eng.); anysboegoe, strandboegoe, klamboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

This floriferous buchu is ideal for the small and large garden alike. It is also grows well in pots....

03 / 09 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gasteria brachyphylla

Gasteria brachypylla growin near Oudtshoorn
Common names: Klein Karoo ox-tongue (Eng.); Klein Karoo-beestong, boesmanrys (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria brachyphylla is a medium-sized aloe-like, succulent-leaved plant with smooth leaves in two opposite rows and an elongated raceme with pinkish...

27 / 08 / 2012 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Clerodendron glabrum

Clerodendron glabrum
Common names: tinderwood (Eng.); moswaapeba (Sotho); tontelhout (Afr.); munukha-tshilongwe (Venda); umqwaqwanam (Xhosa); umQoqonga (Zulu); xinhunwelambeva (Tswana);
Family: Lamiaceae

This is a small tree with smelly leaves and scented flowers in summer. It has many traditional uses....

27 / 08 / 2012 | Lufuno Nenungwi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Grewia hexamita

Grewia hexamita.  Copyright Geoff Nichols
Common names: giant raisin (Eng.); reuserosyntjie, blinkblaarrosyntjie (Afr.); umsiphane (Swazi); nsihana, guguna, nsihani, sipane (Tsonga); mukunukunu (Venda); uml
Family: Malvaceae

The glossy dark green leafed Grewia hexamita has beautiful large, yellow, honey-scented flowers. It is a frost-resistant, hardy shrub or small...

20 / 08 / 2012 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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