top of page

Species Cards

Hypoxis hemerocallidea

The species is a widely used medicinal plant in South Africa, well known for its immune-boosting properties. The rootstock is used to treat tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, prostate issues, rheumatoid arthritis and depression.

Yellow Star

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Gazania ciliaris

Gazania is a floristically important indigenous genus distributed throughout South Africa but with its centre of diversity in the Cape floristic region. Gazania hybrids are globally important in horticulture.

Treasure Flower

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Pelargonium sidoides

It is a well-known medicinal plant and is used by the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of bronchitis. It is also utilized for a variety of folk-medicinal purposes, including the treatment of sore throats and congestion. Its tubers are harvested in the wild and exported for the international herbal medicine trade.

Black Pelargonium

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Avonia quinaria

This succulent it is an essential component of the diverse Karoo flora of South Africa. Its capacity to thrive in harsh, arid environments suggests a deep evolutionary history that merits further investigation.

Red-flowered Avonia

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Bijlia dilatata

The Red List of Southern African Plants notes that the species is range-restricted species (EOO 260 km²) and 'declining due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation'.

Clay Prince Albert vygie

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Celtis africana

The fruit and seeds of the white stinkwood (witstinkhout in Afrikaans) are consumed by various animals, including baboons, monkeys, doves, parrots, louries, thrushes, bulbuls, and weavers.

White stinkwood/Witstinkhout

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Amitermes hastatus

Amitermes hastatus plays a significant role in South African biodiversity as a key decomposer in the fynbos biome, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.

Black mound termite

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Clivia nobilis

Green-tip forest lily was the first species of Clivia to be formally described. Specimens were sent to Europe for domestication as early as 1830, playing an important role in the domestication of Clivia as an ornamental plant.

Green-tip forest lily

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Leucocarbo melanogenesis

This species is critically endangered due to reduced breeding success and inhabits a relatively small geographic area. This genome will be used as a reference genome for future conservation genetics work.

Crozet shag

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Austroglanis gilli

This small freshwater catfish is found in only one river system in the world. It is listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened. It grows slowly, reaching maturity at about three years, and is vulnerable to changes in its environment.

Clanwilliam catfish

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Trachyandra ciliata

Trachyandra ciliata is an edible plant, used as a vegetable and cooked in a stew. The flowering stalks are harvested and can be steamed or boiled the same way as asparagus.

Wildeblomkool

VIEW SPECIES CARD

Eriocephalus ericoides

The Gewone Kapokbossie (kapokbossie is Afrikaans for “snow bush”) is one of the essential bushes in a sheep’s diet which is required for producing certified Karoo lamb. It is the most commonly used medicinal plant of its genus.

Gewone Kapokbossie

VIEW SPECIES CARD
bottom of page