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Species Cards

Ziziphus mucronata

Buffalo thorn's flowers, leaves and berries are used as foodsources by bees, various bird species, and wild and domestic animals.

Blinkblaar-wag-’n-bietjie

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Royenia austro-africana

The fruits are edible, and the wood is used to make fire. The flowers attract insects, and Southern Boubou, flycatchers, white-eyes, robins and thrushes eat them. This shrub has good potential as a bonsai.

Kritikom

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Tylosema esculentum

Marama bean is a drought tolerant perennial legume of southern Africa which has incredible potential to be developed into an agricultural important crop plant.

Maramaboon

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Chrysoblephus laticeps

The Red Roman, a species endemic to the South African marine environment, plays a significant role in the country's economy through both commercial and recreational fishing.

Red Roman

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Balaenoptera brydei

As the only South African resident baleen whale dependent on economically important pelagic fish, the species has high economic and ecological value in the local marine environment. Many aspects of this elusive population remain unknown.

Bryde's whale

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Ocymyrmex barbiger

Ocymyrmex barbiger plays a role in dispersing fynbos seeds.

Bearded hotrod ant

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Monomorium fridae

Little is known about the biology of Monomorium fridae , however, this species is widespread and found in most fynbos regions in South Africa.

Frida's Pharaoh Ant

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Tetramorium sericeiventre

Tetramorium sericeiventre are omnivores, taking a diversity of food types including arthropod fragments, grass stems, leaves, and seeds thus aid in seed dispersal.

Common fierce ant

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Oxalis pes-caprae

This South African species is one of the world's worst weeds, and causes massive damage to invaded ecosystems as it forms monocultures that crowd out native plants. It is almost impossible to eradicate due to extensive clonal reproduction through bulbils. Sequencing the genome of this species may offer us insights into possible management mechanisms.

Bermuda buttercup

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Oxalis suavis

This range-restricted species is a highly promising garden plant, with sweet-scented white or yellow flowers. It is Redlisted as Vulnerable in its native habitat where it is threatened by agriculture.

Sorrel

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Oxalis purpurata

This species is a close relative of the highly invasive weed, Oxalis pes-caprae, but has a naturally small distribution range. The genomes of these two species may give us insights into the evolution of invasiveness. The species is Redlisted as Rare.

Sorrel

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Coleus amboinicus

The fresh leaves are used both for medicinal purposes or as an herb or spice to flavour food, similar to thyme. It is also an important horticultural plant. In the wild it is adapted to disturbance by animals and is drought resistant due to its succulent nature.

African Thyme

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