Plants of the Week

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E.g., 15/01/2025

Dierama reynoldsii

Dierama reynoldsii
Common names: This species does not appear to have a common name of its own, but the genus Dierama is known as hairbells, fairybells, wandflowers; grasklokkies (Afr
Family: Iridaceae

Just imagine the impact of a 'bulb' with flowers the colour of red wine (a young Shiraz , in particular), arising from bracts like the silver stem...

27 / 06 / 2005 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Dierama pendulum

Dierama pendulum
Common names: fairy bell, hair-bell, wedding bell (Eng.)
Family: Iridaceae

Admired for its graceful, wand-like stems, eye-catching pink flowers and erect, long, linear leaves, this easily cultivated plant is one of the most rewarding...

31 / 10 / 2005 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dierama dubium

Dierama dubium
Common names: hidden hairbell (Eng.); grasklokkie (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

A little-known and seldom seen, perennial, evergreen geophyte with small, nodding dark purple-red flowers and white bracts which are borne on arching stems...

19 / 08 / 2024 | Mlondi Sikhosana | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Didymaotus lapidiformis

Image of D. lapidiformis in habitat
Common names: stone plant (Eng.); beeskloutjie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

 Didymaotus lapidiformis is a fascinating chunky succulent that looks like a lithops on steroids! It grows in the arid winter rainfall regions of...

04 / 08 / 2008 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Didelta spinosa

Didelta spinosa
Common names: spiny salad bush (Eng.); perdebos, perdebossie, slaaibos, slaaibossie, t'arda (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Didelta spinosa is a fast-growing shrub or small tree with bright green leaves and large yellow flowers in winter and spring, that is drought-resistant...

10 / 05 / 2021 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Didelta carnosa var. tomentosa

Didelta carnosa var. tomentosa growing in its dune habitat against the backdrop of the majestic Table Mountain
Common names: hairy salad bush (Eng.); harige seegousblom, harige kusslaaibos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A captivating grey-foliage shrublet that is covered in bright yellow flowers from late winter into spring. It grows on dunes and sandy coastal flats and...

29 / 05 / 2023 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dicoma capensis

Dicoma capensis flowerheads. Photo Marinda Koekemoer
Common names: karmedik, fever bush (Eng.); karmedik, koorsbossie, melktoubos, melktou, bietou (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A small perennial plant with decumbent stems, thistle-like flowerheads and a pappus of two kinds, an outer ring of bristles and an inner one of broad white...

29 / 05 / 2023 | Thuli Makhoba | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Dicoma anomala

Common names: fever bush, stomach bush (Eng.); maagbitterwortel, kalwerbossie, koorsbossie, gryshout, maagbossie (Afr.); hloenya, mohlasetse (South Sotho); inyongan
Family: Asteraceae

Dicoma anomala is a highly variable plant characterized by its stiff, sharp-pointed bracts, large flower heads and mauve-white florets surrounded by many...

26 / 02 / 2007 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Dicliptera magaliesbergensis

Dicliptera magaliesbergensis
Common names: none
Family: Acanthaceae

Dicliptera magaliesbergensis is one of 20 South African species of Dicliptera, and one of the 3 threatened species. It is found only in Gauteng and nowhere...

02 / 12 / 2019 | Dineo Dibakwane | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Dicliptera cernua

Dicliptera cernua foliage, slightly hairy.
Common names: false buck-weed (Eng.)
Family: Acanthaceae

Dicliptera cernua is a vigorous and versatile winter-flowering groundcover, suitable for sunny or shady areas....

15 / 02 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dichrostachys cinerea

Common names: sickle bush (Eng.); sekelbos (Afr.); uGagane (Zulu)
Family: Fabaceae

Dichrostachys cinerea is a spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 7 m high, with a rounded crown, 3 m wide....

28 / 09 / 2009 | M Cheek | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis

Mature adult bush with many upright branches
Common names: rhinoceros bush, rhenoster bush (Eng.); renosterbos, rhenosterbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Although renosterbos is not showy or beautiful, it is an interesting and important component of our indigenous flora. It is the dominant member and the...

25 / 09 / 2006 | Nicola Bergh | Compton Herbarium
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Dicerocaryum senecioides

Common names: devil’s thorn, boot protectors, stud plant (Eng.); elandsdoring (Afr.); museto (Tshivenda)
Family: Pedaliaceae

Dicerocaryum senecioides is now known as Sesamum senecioides ...

21 / 09 / 2023 | | Compton Herbarium
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Dicerocaryum eriocarpum

Common names: devil’s thorn (Eng.); beesdubbeltjie, duiwelsdoring, seepbos (Afr.); intekelane (Ndebele); makanagwe (Tswana)
Family: Pedaliaceae

Dicerocaryum eriocarpum is now known as Sesamum eriocarpum ...

21 / 09 / 2023 | | Compton Herbarium
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Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. meridiana

 Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. meridiana. Photo: Carina Lochner
Common names: Hangklip silkypuff (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Hangklip silkypuff  is a rare gem, endemic to the Kogelberg, Hangklip and Betty’s Bay area. Its pretty star-like flowers, present for most...

07 / 07 / 2015 | Victoria Wilman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella proteoides

Diastella proteoides: Photo Nigel Foreshaw
Common names: Flats' Silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

This dainty member of the protea family is threatened with extinction as its habitat disappears....

17 / 06 / 2002 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella parilis

Diastella parilis
Common names: Worcester silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

A rounded, fynbos shrublet, with pleasant pink flowers for more than six months, that is suitable for cultivation in containers....

06 / 02 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella fraterna

Diastella fraterna
Common names: Palmiet silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

The Palmiet silkypuff is a decorative shrublet with a sprinkling of pretty puffy white flowers almost all year round....

16 / 11 / 2015 | Nosiphelele Patricia Mapukata | Harold Porter NBG
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Diastella divaricata subsp. montana

Diastella divaricata subsp. montana
Common names: mountain silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

...

22 / 05 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella divaricata subsp. divaricata

Diastella divaricata subsp. divaricata
Common names: Peninsula silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

A sprawling, creeping, rounded shrub dotted with small, pink inflorescences, that gives the best year-round display in a fynbos garden, and is a champion...

01 / 05 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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