Plants of the Week

Combretum bracteosum

Common names: hiccough-nut, hiccup nut, hiccough creeper (Eng.); hikklimop (Afr.); uQotha (Xhosa)

Family: Combretaceae

The Combretum bracteosum is unique amongst our bushwillows in that it does not have the characteristic, papery, four-winged fruit which is familiar...

14 / 06 / 2004 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Combretum erythrophyllum

Common names: river bushwillow (Eng.), riviervaderlandswilg, rooiblaar, rooiblad (Afr.), umbondwe, umdubu-wehlandze, umhlalavane (Zulu), umdubu (Xhosa), miavana, mo

Family: Combretaceae

One of the winged wonders belonging to the bushwillow family, this medium-sized tree is a fast grower, producing creamy flowers and beautiful 4-winged...

30 / 06 / 2003 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG

Combretum imberbe

Common names: leadwood (Eng.); hardekool (Afr.); motswiri (Pedi); ummono (Sotho); mondzo (Tsonga); motswere (Tswana); umbondwe omnyama (Zulu); mohwelere-tshipi (Nor

Family: Combretaceae

Combretum imberbe is the most impressive of our combretums; even when it is dead, leadwood presents an imposing display, with its almost white trunk...

10 / 04 / 2006 | Patrick Mtsweni | Walter Sisulu NBG

Combretum kraussii

Common names: forest bushwillow (Eng.), bosvaderlandswilg (Afr.), uhwabhu, umdubu-wehlathi (Zulu), ulandile (Xhosa), imbondvo-lemhlophe, umdvubu (Swazi), modlubu (N

Family: Combretaceae

Handsome, quick growing and reasonably cold resistant, this tree is recommended for shady areas in gardens with a mild to warm climate....

07 / 07 / 2003 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG

Combretum microphyllum

Common names: flame creeper

Family: Combretaceae

This is a spectacular creeper providing a spring spectacle of flaming crimson, flowering splendour. It is an excellent plant to fill the gaps in larger...

23 / 06 / 2003 | Y Reynolds | Lowveld NBG

Combretum mossambicense

Common names: knobbly creeper (Eng.); knoppiesklimop (Afr.)

Family: Combretaceae

Masses of lovely fluffy pink-white flowers are displayed on bare branches in early spring. Fragrant and resembling small powder puffs, they lure a variety...

11 / 08 / 2003 | Pitta Joffe | Pretoria NBG

Combretum apiculatum subsp. apiculatum

Common names: red bush willow (Eng.); rooiboswilg (Afr.); umbondwe (Zulu); imbondvo (Swazi); mohwidiri (Tswana); mohwelere (Sepedi); muvuvha (Tshivenda); ndhuva (Ts

Family: Combretaceae

Combretum apiculatum subsp. apiculatum is an attractive, deciduous, small to medium-sized tree that occurs in various savanna regions, often at low altitudes...

10 / 01 / 2011 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria NBG

Combretum molle

Common names: velvet bush willow, velvet leaf willow (Eng.); fluweelboswilg, basterrooibos (Afr.); mokgwethe (North Sotho); iNkukutwane (Siswati); xikhukhutsane (Ts

Family: Combretaceae

This is a decorative tree, well suited for a summer rainfall garden....

31 / 10 / 2011 | T.T. Masupa | National Herbarium Pretoria

Combretum woodii

Common names: large-leaved forest bushwillow (Eng.); grootblaarvaderlandswilg (Afr.); iWaphu (Zulu); Mbondvo sehlatsi (Swazi)

Family: Combretaceae

...

14 / 02 / 2005 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

Commelina africana

Common names: common yellow commelina (Eng.); geeleendagsblom (Afr.); idangabane (Zulu), lekzotswana (Xhosa); khopo, khotsoana, lekxopswana, tabola-lefalo (Southern

Family: Commelinaceae

Commelina africana differs from most other Commelina species by having pretty, small, canary-yellow flowers instead of the usual blue flowers, and also...

09 / 04 / 2007 | C Mudau | National Herbarium Pretoria

Commiphora

Common names: corkwood, commiphora; (Eng.); kanniedood (Afr.)

Family: Burseraceae

The corkwoods are a fascinating group of trees, because of their bizarre appearance, but more importantly for their historical and biblical association...

31 / 01 / 2011 | Beate Hölscher | National Herbarium Pretoria

Conophytym obcordellum subsp. obcordellum

Common names: dumpling

Family: Aizoaceae

Minute but spectacular; Conophytum species are amongst the most intriguing of all dwarf succulents and C. obcordellum is perhaps one of the most spectacular...

12 / 11 / 2012 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Conophytum truncatum

Common names: dumpling

Family: Aizoaceae

Have you ever seen anything like this? For the uninitiated this strange plant must seem extraterrestrial. So it must have appeared also to its discoverers...

31 / 03 / 2003 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Conophytum calculus subsp. calculus

Common names: cone plants, dumplings, button plants, sphaeroids, conos; knopies (buttons), toontjies (little toes), waterblasies (water blisters) (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

These humorous-looking `pebble plants' are easy to grow in pots and their unusual night-time opening flowers have a delightfully spicy scent....

19 / 05 / 2014 | Sarah-Leigh Hutchinson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Conophytum ficiforme

Common names: button plants (Eng.); knopies (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Conophytums, these peculiar gems with their highly reduced leaves and exposed surfaces, and with flowers resembling miniature shaving brushes, have fascinated...

28 / 01 / 2013 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG

Conophytum wettsteinii

Common names: cone plant, dumplings, button plants (Eng.); knopies (buttons), toontjies (little toes), waterblasies (water blisters), ogies (small eyes) (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Conophytum wettsteinii are highly collectable, easy to grow, dwarf-cushioned succulents that produce attractive pink flowers in autumn....

19 / 05 / 2014 | A Jakoet | Compton Herbarium

Cordia caffra

Common names: septee saucer-berry (Eng.); septeeboom (Afr.); mududa (V)

Family: Boraginaceae

Why this breathtaking tree is so rarely used in the horticultural and landscape trade is a mystery. It possesses almost all the qualities of the ideal...

20 / 10 / 2003 | Nick Klapwijk | Pretoria NBG

Cordyla africana

Common names: sunbird tree (Eng.); wildemango (Afr.); iGowane-elikhulu, umbhone (Zulu)

Family: Fabaceae

Did you know that Africa has its own mango? Although the fruit is not as big and tasty as the exotic one and it belongs to a different family, it is extremely...

26 / 06 / 2006 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria