top of page
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.
Group:
Eudicot
Estimated genome size:
Size:
1 meter in height
Distribution:
Melianthus comosus occurs mainly in the dry interior of South Africa, extending across seven of the nine South African provinces: North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It also occurs in Namibia and Lesotho.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
39.21 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
4.91 kilobases
Assembly N50:
15 688.62 kilobases
Contig number:
13 435
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
0.88 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.7% [S: 88.9%, D: 10.8%]
BUSCO database:
viridiplantae
Melianthus comosus
Kruidjie-roer-my-nie
.jpg)
Importance:
The brightly coloured red flowers produce an abundance of black nectar that attracts sunbirds, Cape white eyes, bees and butterflies. Leaf and stem extractions are used to treat septic wounds, sores, bruises, backache and rheumatic joints. It is a traditional remedy for snakebite.
Date Published:
2025-10-29
Photo credit:
© D. Hoare
bottom of page