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Group:
Eudicot
Estimated genome size:
15 – 30 cm in height
Size:
15 – 30 cm in height
Distribution:
Sceletium (Mesembryanthemum) tortuosum occurs in the Succulent Karoo and Namaqualand Karoo regions of the Cape provinces of South Africa, primarily in semi-arid environments.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
63.19 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
6.65 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
0.76 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
96.8% [S: 89.7%, D: 7.2%]
Importance:
Sceletium (Mesembryanthemum) tortuosum has a long history of traditional use for relieving thirst, hunger and fatigue, as well as for social and spiritual purposes. A reference genome will help researchers understand the genetic basis of mesembrine alkaloid production and support conservation of wild populations.
Group:
Eudicot
Estimated genome size:
Size:
5 – 20 centimeters in
height
Distribution:
Found in the Northern Cape,
Western Cape and Eastern
Cape, between and in the
districts of Prieska, Beaufort
West, Cradock and Calvinia.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
71.89 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
8.92 kilobases
Assembly N50:
79 387.72 kilobases
Contig number:
1 341
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
0.77 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
97.1% [S: 93.2%, D: 3.9%]
BUSCO database:
viridiplantae
Importance:
Mesembryanthemum emarcidum is a South African endemic, medicinally recognised succulent of the Succulent Karoo with understudied wild populations. The complete absence of cytogenetic or genomic data makes it a highly valuable candidate for foundational genetic, ecological, and conservation research into southern-African mesemb biodiversity.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Annerie Senekal
Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
Date Published:
2026-08-11
Photo credit:
© K. Reddy
Flora
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