Plants of the Week

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

Caputia scaposa

Flowers of Caputia scaposa var.scaposa
Common names: small caputia (Eng.); kleintontelbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

This is a short, drought tolerant, succulent shrublet, belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae), with showy, spreading leaves in a central rosette and...

15 / 09 / 2014 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Isolepis

Isolepsis antartica. Photo: C Stirton
Common names: Sedges (Eng); madzhesi (Tshivenda)
Family: Cyperaceae

The genus Isolepis R.Br. comprises about 76 species. Members in the genus Isolepis mostly occur in the temperate regions of the southern...

15 / 09 / 2014 | Aluwani Tshiila | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Diospyros scabrida var. cordata

Foliage showing red new growth
Common names: Hard-leaved monkey plum; blinkblaar,hardeblaartolbos (Afr.)
Family: Ebenaceae

This lovely little tree has three outstanding features to recommend it; its compact growth habit, its gorgeous glossy foliage and its unusual balloon fruit...

22 / 09 / 2014 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Roella glomerata

Inflorescence, showing white flowers
Common names: Amazombe (isiZulu); ibhosisi (isiXhosa)
Family: Campanulaceae

Roella glomerata with its large, white to pale blue flowers, is the only member of the South African endemic genus, Roella that is found...

22 / 09 / 2014 | C Cupido | Compton Herbarium
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Monsonia glauca

Monsonia glauca
Common names: dysentery herb (Eng.); naaldebossie, keitabossie, keitabossie (Afr.).
Family: Geraniaceae

This is a perennial herb with a woody base growing in scrubby grassland....

29 / 09 / 2014 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria 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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Cotula turbinata

Plant in flower-white form
Common names: bachelor buttons, funnel weed (Eng.); ganskos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Cotula turbinata is a pretty, early flowering annual that can be seen popping up in grassy patches along sidewalks and other moist open places throughout...

06 / 10 / 2014 | A Jakoet | Compton Herbarium
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Pteronia stricta

Plant in flower
Common names: kaatjiegert, kaatjiegertbossie (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Pteronia stricta is an upright shrub with showy yellow flower heads that appear almost throughout the year....

06 / 10 / 2014 | Hannelie Snyman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum

Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum (Ernst Schmidt)
Common names: wild cotton (Eng.); wildekatoen (Afr.); kotini (Xho.); litjinda (Swa.); ugampokwe, umgawuma (Zul.)
Family: Malvaceae

The wild cotton plant, Gossypium herbaceum subsp. africanum, is often only noticed when in fruit or when bearings its hibiscus-like flowers....

13 / 10 / 2014 | Mandisa Kondlo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Heteropyxis canescens

Heteropyxis canescens
Common names: forest lavender tree (Eng.); boslaventelboom (Afr.); inkunzana (Siswati)
Family: Heteropyxidaceae

The forest lavender tree is an evergreen to semi-deciduous, attractive small tree. It deserves to be utilised more in gardens and landscapes, due to its...

20 / 10 / 2014 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Gonioma kamassi

Gonioma kamassi (Andrea Durrheim)
Common names: kamassi, Knysna boxwood (Eng.); kamassiehout (Afr.); igala-gala (isiXhosa)
Family: Apocynaceae

A small, unusual and rewarding, rounded, evergreen shrub with fragrant white or pale yellow flowers that are produced in small clusters at the ends of...

27 / 10 / 2014 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Androstachys johnsonii

Androstachys johnsonii, fruits. (E. Schmidt)
Common names: Lebombo-ironwood (Eng.), Lebombo-ysterhout (Afr.), umsimbitsi (seSwati), nsimbitsi (seTswana)
Family: Picrodendraceae

Lebombo-ironwood is an evergreen tree which occurs in hot savannas; it is reputed for its hard and long-lasting wood. Many strong structures around the...

27 / 10 / 2014 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Cotula duckittiae

Bright orange flowers
Common names: Bokbaai buttons
Family: Asteraceae

This adorable orange flowered annual normally heralds the beginning of spring when it starts flowering in September....

03 / 11 / 2014 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Geissorhiza eurystigma

Flowers
Common names: wine cups (Engl.); kelkie wyn (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Geissorhiza eurystigma is one of the few species in its genus with such large and colourful flowers. The combination of purple and red is indeed a beautiful...

03 / 11 / 2014 | Brittany Arendse | CREW
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Drimia filifolia

Flowers of Drimiaf filifolia
Common names: thread-leaf drimia (Eng.); gifbol (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Drimia filifolia is an attractive plant, flowering in spring up to early summer and is an asset to any garden. This article will provide some insight into...

10 / 11 / 2014 | James Deacon | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Petalacte coronata

Leaves and flowers of Petalacte coronata
Common names: paper flower (Eng.); wildesewejaartjie (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Petalacte coronata produces white flower heads in clusters from June to November. The distribution of the plant seems to influence the length of flowering....

10 / 11 / 2014 | Benjamin Festus | Harold Porter NBG
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Serruria adscendens

Bush in flower
Common names: Kleinmond spiderhead
Family: Proteaceae

Serruria adscendens is an attractive, rounded shrub of slopes and flats, in the coastal fynbos between Betty's Bay and Bredasdorp in the Western Cape....

17 / 11 / 2014 | Nosiphelele Patricia Mapukata | Harold Porter NBG
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Maurocenia frangula

Tree in flower
Common names: bittersweet-cherry, Hottentot's cherry, vulture berry, nastergalkersie, hottentotskersie, aasvoelbessie (Afr.)
Family: Celastraceae

Maurocenia frangula provides interest throughout the year; with its scarlet, new growth in winter, bright cerise edible berries in autumn, and its decorative,...

17 / 11 / 2014 | Melissa Van der Burg | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Otholobium virgatum

Plant in flower
Common names: carpet pea, mat otholobium, eight-day-healing bush (Eng.); agtdaegeneesbossie (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

This is a mat-forming and low-growing, trailing, ground cover with masses of mauve-pink, pea-like flowers in spring....

24 / 11 / 2014 | Zoleka Maphanga | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe mudenensis

Aloe mudenensis
Common names: Muden aloe (Eng.); kleinaalwyn (Afr.); icena (IsiZulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe mudenensis is one of the most attractive spotted aloes, endemic to Muden and Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal....

24 / 11 / 2014 | Ntokoza Nkosi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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