Plants of the Week

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E.g., 28/11/2024
E.g., 28/11/2024

Cyrtanthus flammosus

Cyrtanthus flammosus growing in habitat
Common names: Kouga flame lily (Eng.); Kouga-vlamlelie (Afr.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This exciting ornamental bulbous plant with its large solitary orange-red flower is only known from the cliffs along the Kouga River and adjacent territory...

22 / 07 / 2013 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos middelburgensis

E.middelburgensis in habitat
Common names: Middelburg cycad (Eng.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos middelburgensis is a blue-leaved cycad covered with persistent powdery bloom. It thrives in full sunlight and is frost-hardy. It is...

22 / 07 / 2013 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Strophanthus speciosus

Plant in flower
Common names: forest tailflower, poison rope, common poison rope, forest poison rope (Eng.); giftou, bobbejaantou, bosgiftou, osdoring (Afr.); umhlazazane (Swati/si
Family: Apocynaceae

Beware! This plant can be deadly in high doses, although it is used medicinally in moderate doses....

29 / 07 / 2013 | Hannelie Snyman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Xysmalobium pedifoetidum

Flower head
Common names: northern red-flowered cartwheel
Family: Apocynaceae

Despite the fact that Xysmalobium pedifoetidum is the most recently described member in its genus, it has been known by taxonomists for more than 50 years....

29 / 07 / 2013 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Lachenalia fistulosa

Plant in flower
Common names: Cape hyacinth; viooltije (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A Cape hyacinth with flowers and scent to rival any European hyacinth....

05 / 08 / 2013 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Miraglossum davyi

Close up of flower
Common names: No known common names.
Family: Apocynaceae

Miraglossum davyi is indeed an astonishing plant when viewed close-up. The remarkable structure of the corona lobes of this rarely seen plant has...

05 / 08 / 2013 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Babiana villosa

Red flowered form
Common names: red babiana (Eng.); rooibobbejaantjie (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Babiana villosa is a spectacular red- or pink-flowered cormous plant endemic to the southwestern Cape. With sufficient care, it performs well in cultivation...

12 / 08 / 2013 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Chaenostoma pauciflora

Flowers
Common names: trailing phlox; rankende floks (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

This is an attractive, dainty-looking, trailing perennial groundcover with small, triangular, dark leaves and tiny white flowers....

12 / 08 / 2013 | Sthembile Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Encephalartos umbeluziensis

Cones
Common names: Umbeluzi cycad (Eng.); Umbeluzi broodboom (Afr.)

Encephalartos umbeluziensis is a small cycad with an unbranched, subterranean stem which rarely forms suckers. It is a frost-hardy species that grows best...

19 / 08 / 2013 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Leucospermum truncatulum

Multi-colored flowerhead
Common names: oval-leaf pincushion, buxifolium, buxi (Eng.); patrysbos, kleinkopspeldekussing (Afr.) (= L. buxifolium R.Br.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucospermum truncatulum provides form, texture and colour to the garden, with its upright stems that are neatly covered in rounded leaves, and clusters...

19 / 08 / 2013 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei

Bright red form
Common names: Fourcade's heath
Family: Ericaceae

Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei is an attractive and hardy coastal species that is not as well known as its close relative, E. glandulosa subsp....

26 / 08 / 2013 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Haworthia cymbiformis

Haworthia cymbiformis
Common names: cathedral window haworthia
Family: Asphodelaceae

This is a succulent plant with a restricted distribution in southern Africa . The succulent leaves of this relatively small plant allow it to withstand...

26 / 08 / 2013 | Sthembile Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Pouzolzia mixta

Leaves of Pouzolzia mixta
Common names: soap-nettle (Eng.); seepnetel, wildebraam (Afr.); isikukuku (IsiNdebele); nthadzwa (Setswana); muthanzwa, murovhadembe (Tshivenda); nthadzwa (Xitsonga
Family: Urticaceae

Pouzolzia mixta is a multi-stemmed shrub with conspicuously bicoloured (two coloured) leaves which are spirally arranged with smooth margins....

02 / 09 / 2013 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria NBG
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Syzygium guineense

Stem of Syzygium guineense
Common names: woodland waterberry, waterpear (Eng.); waterpeer (Afr.); umdoni (isiNdebele)
Family: Myrtaceae

This is a lovely medium-sized to large evergreen tree with a smooth greyish-white single stem on young trees and beautiful purplish-red young leaves. This...

02 / 09 / 2013 | Kuphumla Zenze | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Bulbine pendens

Growing in habitat Paradyskloof in spring.
Common names: bootlace bulbine (Eng.); skoenveter kopieva (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This is a dwarf, summer-deciduous succulent with drooping, string-like leaves and ascending yellow flowers from cliffs in northern Namaqualand and the...

09 / 09 / 2013 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Funaria hygrometrica

Plants with capsules - Photo and copyright Štepán Koval
Common names: Common cord-moss, little goldilocks, golden maidenhair
Family: Funariaceae

The attractive red-brown spore-bearing part of the plant (sporophyte), which consists of a long, twisting stalk (seta) with an asymmetrical, grooved capsule...

09 / 09 / 2013 | Jacques van Rooy | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Gazania rigida

Gazania rigida in flower
Common names: Karoo gazania
Family: Asteraceae

Gazania rigida is not easy to miss during late winter to early summer when it colours the landscape in bright splashes of orange and yellow....

16 / 09 / 2013 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Zeuxine africana

Habit of Z. africana
Common names: None
Family: Orchidaceae

Zeuxine africana, listed as Endangered on the South African Red List, is only known from a single locality - the busiest port of southern Africa, Durban...

16 / 09 / 2013 | K Zulu | CREW
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Leucadendron floridum

Bush with female flowers
Common names: Flats conebush, silky euryspermum, sunny; tolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

As its name implies, the Flats conebush is suited to wetland areas or damp positions in the garden. Plant this shrub in groups to add seasonal colour and...

23 / 09 / 2013 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Plectranthus ciliatus

PLectranthus ciliatus
Common names: speckled spur-flower, eyelash spur-flower, white wild sage; gespikkelde muishondblaar, wimperspoorsalie (Afr.); lephele-phele (Sesotho); umsuthuza (is
Family: Lamiaceae

With its attractive white to light purple-pink flowers and ornamental foliage, this species is a pleasure for any moist subtropical garden, ideal for hanging...

23 / 09 / 2013 | B Busch | National Herbarium Pretoria
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