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Species Cards

Diospyros mespiliformis

The jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) is an ecologically and culturally important South African species, particularly in the north-eastern provinces.

Jackalberry

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Pringleophaga marioni

Prinigleohaga marioni is endemic to the Prince Edward Islands. This species plays a vital role in the island's nutrient cycling.

Marion flightless moth

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Brunia paleacea

Brunia paleacea belongs to a distinctive lineage once recognised as the separate genus Nebelia.

Spikekol

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Berzelia lanuginosa

Berzelia lanuginosa is one of the most common species in the family Bruniaceae and a characteristic component of wetter fynbos habitats, often forming dense stands in moist environments.

Vlei Kolkol

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Anthia decemguttata

Anthia decemguttata belongs to the family Carabidae, a group of beetles that includes important predators. Carabids are abundant in agricultural fields worldwide and may help control agricultural pests naturally.

Tenspot ground beetle

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Ficus craterostoma

Ficus craterostoma occurs in Afromontane forests and along the South African coast, where it serves as an important year round food source for frugivores.

Strangler fig

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Tulbaghia cominsii

Wild garlic is critically Endangered and possibly extinct in the wild.

Wild garlic

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Stoebe aethiopica

Knoppiesslangbos (Stoebe aethiopica) is the type species of the ecologically significant, Cape-centred genus Stoebe, providing a critical foundation for phylogenetic and systematic studies of the genus and South African daisies more broadly.

Knoppiesslangbos

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Erotylidae gen. nov. MS 5

This cycad-associated beetle represents a previously unsequenced and undescribed lineage within the family Erotylidae. It forms part of the pollinator assemblage for endangered Encephalartos species.

Cycad fungus beetle

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Portulacaria pygmaea

This species is listed as Critically Endangered on the SANBI Red List. It is has lost most of its habitat to mining and is being poached heavily and needs critical conservation intervention. It is a relative of Portulacaria afra (spekboom) which has important ecological and economic value.

Pygmy porkbush

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Pelargonium fergusoniae

This species represents a major taxonomic group within Pelargonium, a highly diverse genus with economic, research and conservation value. As an endangered species its assembled genome will support studies of population genetic patterns and inform future conservation strategies.

Malva

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Ficus salicifolia

Most Ficus species have 26 chromosomes, but tetraploidy has possibly evolved four times within the genus, producing four tetraploid Ficus species, all of which occur in South Africa.

Wonderboom fig

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