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Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

0.3 meters in height.

Size:

0.3 meters in height.

Distribution:

Found in grassland habitats across Southern Africa.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

122.04 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

9.24 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

2.75 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.6% [S: 60.8%, D: 38.8%]

Importance:

Some populations of this species in the Barberton region of South Africa have evolved the ability to hyperaccumulate nickel, making this species ideal for a comparative genomics approach to understand the evolution of this extreme phenotype.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Prof. Robert Ingle
University of Cape Town

Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

Size:

Up to 1 meter tall and wide

Distribution:

Eriocephalus ericoides thrives in the stony clay and sandy flats from Namibia to the Free State and the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape. It is the most widely distributed species of the genus.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

422.44 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

10.93 kilobases

Assembly N50:

89 078.95 kilobases

Contig number:

1 952

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Hifiasm

Genome Length:

13.71 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.8% [S: 3.1%, D: 96.7%]

BUSCO database:

viridiplantae

Eriocephalus ericoides

Gewone Kapokbossie

Species Card Details

Importance:

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.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Renée Prins
CenGen

Date Published:

2025-09-18

Photo credit:

© D. Turner

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