Plants of the Week

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E.g., 06/12/2024
E.g., 06/12/2024

Ledebouria revoluta

Ledebouria revoluta
Common names: common African hyacinth (Eng.); bokhoe (Sso.); icubudwana (Zul.); inqwebebane, ubuhlungu (Xho.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A widespread and very common species, this attractive Ledebouria shows a tremendous amount of variation across its extensive range....

31 / 12 / 2018 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria rupestris

Ledebouria rupestris
Common names: Mac-Mac African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

An attractive dwarf Ledebouria forming dense clusters of many tiny bulbs which flower freely and make a handsome pot subject. This highly range restricted...

14 / 01 / 2019 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria socialis

Ledebouria socialis
Common names: silver African hyacinth, silver squill
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This attractive, small bulbous plant, is by far the most popular of all the Ledebouria species, enjoyed by many collectors of rare and unusual plants,...

21 / 01 / 2019 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria ovatifolia subsp. scabrida

Ledebouria ovatifolia subsp. scabrida
Common names: Mdumbeni River Valley African Hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

An unusual flat-leaved Ledebouria which has leaves pressed flat on the ground and the upper surface of the leaves adorned with tongue-shaped papillae which...

28 / 01 / 2019 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Lapeirousia anceps

Lapeirousia anceps
Common names: sandveld cabong, cabung, chabi (Eng.); pienk koringblom (Afr.); cabong (Namaqua)
Family: Iridaceae

A small bulbous plant that is drought tolerant and thrives on low rainfall, transforming the veld with a spectacular display of masses of tubular, white...

04 / 02 / 2019 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Leucospermum prostratum

Leucospermum prostratum
Common names: yellow trailing pincushion
Family: Proteaceae

Leucospermum prostratum forms a charismatic, trailing carpet with scented, bright yellow, apricot, and then red flowers....

04 / 10 / 2014 | Phumza Bavuma | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Lachenalia reflexa

Lachenalia reflexa
Common names: yellow soldier
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A bulbous plant with bright yellow, urn-shaped flowers, and ascending, strap-shaped leaves; this winter-flowering plant is in danger of extinction in its...

17 / 06 / 2019 | Mpho Mathalauga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Lannea edulis var. edulis

Lannea edulis var. edulis
Common names: grape lannea, wild grape (Eng.); wildedruif (Afr.); umgabunkhomo (isiZulu); mutsambatsi (siSwati); phepo (Setswana).
Family: Anacardiaceae

A dwarf shrub, with stubby stems arising from a woody rootstock; it bears large leaves compared to the size of the plant. The fruits are edible, with a...

01 / 07 / 2019 | Fergy Nkadimeng | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Lantana rugosa

Lantana rugosa
Common names: bird’s beer, bird’s brandy (Eng.); voëlbrandewyn, wildesalie (Afr.); sekwebetane (isiNdebele); utyani-bentaka, utywala bentaka (isiXhosa); impema
Family: Verbenaceae

From a distance, if it looks like the famous fever-tea or lemon bush plant (Lippia javanica), it is most likely Lantana rugosa. Sadly, sharing the common...

05 / 08 / 2019 | Lesiba Papo | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Ledebouria floribunda

Ledebouria floribunda
Common names: spotted African hyacinth (Eng.); isikholokotho (Zul.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A large and usually attractively spotted Ledebouria species; this species is one of the largest species in the entire genus....

19 / 08 / 2019 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Lasiosiphon deserticola

Lasiosiphon deserticola 
Common names: saffron curryflower (Eng.); saffraan, saffraanbos, verfbossie, hotnotsverfbossie (Afr.)
Family: Thymelaeaceae

 An evergreen shrub with bright, ochre-yellow, night-scented flowers, which can be used to make a yellow dye....

21 / 10 / 2019 | Odwa Obose | Compton Herbarium
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Lapeirousia pyramidalis subsp. pyramidalis

Lapeirousia pyramidalis subsp. pyramidalis
Common names: pyramid cabong, painted petals (Eng.); naeltjie, koringblom (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

This hardy, dwarf irid is ideal for arid areas and has strikingly attractive, fragrant flowers in spring....

27 / 01 / 2020 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Lachenalia lutzeyeri

Lachenalia lutzeyeri in habitat. (Photo Vera Frith)
Common names: Lutzeyer’s lachenalia
Family: Hyacinthaceae

...

30 / 03 / 2020 | Joti Daya | CREW
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Leucospermum harpagonatum

Leucospermum harpagonatum
Common names: McGregor pincushion
Family: Proteaceae

An unusual creeping, mat-forming pincushion, with reddish, trailing stems and pinkish red flower heads in spring, that makes a pleasant groundcover for...

20 / 04 / 2020 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria linioseta

Ledebouria linioseta
Common names: scented African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A cryptic, dwarf, bulbous plant species; the plants hiding between huge boulders in the hills around a small town above the Mpumalanga escarpment, producing...

18 / 05 / 2020 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Lanaria lanata

Lanaria lanata
Common names: Cape edelweiss (Eng.); kapokblom, perdekapok (Afr.)
Family: Lanariaceae

Lanaria lanata is packed full of surprises. With its grass-like leaves and white, woolly inflorescence, one would think that that would be all it has to...

27 / 07 / 2020 | Karen Wall | Harold Porter NBG
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Ledebouria hypoxidioides

Ledebouria hypoxidioides
Common names: Grahamstown African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A highly unique species in the genus since it is the only species with leaves that are densely covered with shaggy hairs. This species is also only known...

10 / 08 / 2020 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria ovalifolia

Ledebouria ovalifolia (Photo Klaus Wehrlin)
Common names: fynbos African hyacinth (Eng.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This curious dwarf species has a restricted distribution mainly in the southern, western and Northern Cape. It makes a great pot plant where it quickly...

19 / 10 / 2020 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria loskopica

Ledebouria loskopica
Common names: Loskop African hyacinth (Eng.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

With its hairy leaves and strongly scented flowers, the Loskop African hyacinth was only recently formally recognized as a new species, despite being first...

02 / 11 / 2020 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ledebouria leptophylla

Ledebouria leptophylla
Common names: grass-leaved African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A miniature and very well-hidden species, which is easily overlooked in the field because of its small size and grass-like leaves. ...

16 / 11 / 2020 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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