Plants of the Week

Raspalia trigyna

Common names: Pondoland ghost bush

Family: Bruniaceae

The flowering plant family Bruniaceae is almost entirely endemic to fynbos, the typical vegetation of the Cape Floral Kingdom of the Western and Eastern...

19 / 05 / 2008 | Lize Von Staden | TSP

Euphorbia barnardii

Common names: mokgwakgwatha (Pedi)

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia barnardii is an unusual succulent shrub endemic to the Limpopo Province....

26 / 05 / 2008 | Pethole Manyama | CREW

Justicia campylostemon

Common names: honey justicia (Eng.); isipheka (Zulu)

Family: Acanthaceae

...

26 / 05 / 2008 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Syncolostemon teucriifolius

Common names: teucrium-leaved sagebush

Family: Lamiaceae

...

02 / 06 / 2008 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG

Xerophyta retinervis

Common names: black-stick lily ( Eng.); besembos, bobbejaanstert (Afr.); sifunti (Swazi); isigqumana, isiphmba (Zulu)

Family: Velloziaceae

Xerophyta retinervis is a fascinating plant with blackened stems in the winter months but totally transformed in the early summer when covered with...

02 / 06 / 2008 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Bowkeria citrina

Common names: yellow shell-flower bush (Eng.); geelskulpblombos (Afr.)

Family: Stilbaceae

The wonderful display of the bright yellow flowers, the fragrance of the leaves and the polished brown fruit of Bowkeria citrina, make this beautiful...

09 / 06 / 2008 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Faurea saligna

Common names: willow beechwood, African beech (Eng.); Bosveldboekenhout (Afr.); iSefu, umCalathole (Zulu); isiDwadwa, umOnyeli (Ndebele); mohlako, mongena (Northern

Family: Proteaceae

The willowy shape of Faurea saligna is a graceful feature in large gardens and landscapes, and its resistance to termites is a bonus, especially...

09 / 06 / 2008 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Leucadendron elimense subsp. elimense

Common names: Elim conebush

Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron elimense subsp. elimense is an attractive species not be overlooked when driving along the gravel roads between Elim and Bredasdorp....

16 / 06 / 2008 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG

Pelargonium ionidiflorum

Common names: violet-flower pelargonium

Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium ionidiflorum provides beautiful violet pink flowers all year round in the garden....

16 / 06 / 2008 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG

Hydnora africana

Common names: jackal food (Eng.); jakkalskos, bobbejaankos (Afr.)

Family: Hydnoraceae

Hydnora africana is one of the most bizarre-looking plants on the African continent and is certainly not the most common of plants to be encountered...

23 / 06 / 2008 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG

Protea burchellii

Common names: Burchell's sugarbush ( Eng. ); blinksuikerbos (Afr.)

Family: Proteaceae

Protea burchellii is a medium-sized, winter-flowering shrub and a delightful addition to any fynbos garden....

23 / 06 / 2008 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agathosma apiculata

Common names: garlic buchu ( Eng.); knoffelboegoe (Afr.)

Family: Rutaceae

The leaves of Agathosma apiculata are aromatic and a distinctive garlic scent is released when the leaves are crushed, due to the volatile oils in the...

30 / 06 / 2008 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gonialoe variegata

Common names: partridge breast aloe (Eng.); kanniedood, bontalwyn (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

This plant was previously called Aloe variegata. Gonialoe variegata is one of the best known, and most distinctive of the South African aloes. The characteristic...

30 / 06 / 2008 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG

Aloe variegata

This plant is now called Gonialoe variegata....

30 / 06 / 2008 | | Harold Porter NBG

Euryops abrotanifolius

Common names: lace-leaf euryops, mountain resin bush (Eng.); bergharpuisbos, geelmagriet (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Euryops abrotanifolius is an easy-to-grow fynbos shrub with bright yellow daisies during winter and spring that will cheer up the winter garden....

07 / 07 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Trianoptiles

Common names: sedges (Eng.); biesies (Afr.)

Family: Cyperaceae

Trianoptiles is a tiny genus of three species, two of which are highly threatened in their natural habitat. Despite being on the brink of extinction...

07 / 07 / 2008 | Caitlin Von Witt | CREW

Erica blenna var. grandiflora

Image of E. blenna var. grandiflora Photo: Plantweb

Common names: lantern heath, Riversdale heath (Eng.); belletjieheide (Afr.)

Family: Ericaceae

Erica blenna var. grandiflora is unusual in flower shape and colour and these attributes contribute to making South African ericas uniquely...

14 / 07 / 2008 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG

Pseudoscolopia polyantha

Common names: false red pear ( Eng. ); valsrooipeer (Afr

Family: Salicaceae

Pseudoscolopia polyantha is a rare, near-threatened and little known tree restricted to a threatened habitat-forest margins....

14 / 07 / 2008 | Suvarna Parbhoo | CREW

Lamiaceae

Common names: mint or sage family

Family: Lamiaceae

The Lamiaceae family is characterised by square stems, aromatic leaves (gland-dotted) and zygomorphic (irregular) flowers with the corolla usually 2-lipped....

21 / 07 / 2008 | Elizabeth Retief | National Herbarium Pretoria

Phymaspermum acerosum

Common names: geelblombos (Afr.), isibhaha-segceke, umhlonishwa (Zulu)

Family: Asteraceae

The geelblombos will brighten up any dull area in the garden during the autumn months....

21 / 07 / 2008 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG

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