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Phylum:
Angiosperms
Estimated genome size:
1O meters (height)
Organism size:
1O meters (height)
Distribution:
Schotia brachypetala occurs in warm dry areas in bushveld, deciduous woodland and scrub forest most often on the banks of rivers and streams or on old termite mounds at lower altitudes from around Umtata in the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and into Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
86.11 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
12.38 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
1333.64 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
98.4% [S85.2%, D:13.2%]
Importance:
Schotia brachypetala an exceptional ornamental tree and has a number of other uses including medicine, food, timber and as a dye. The seeds are edible after roasting, and although low in fat and protein they have a high carbohydrate content. Both the Bantu-speaking people and the early European settlers and farmers are said to have roasted the mature pods and eaten the seeds, a practice which they learned from the Khoikhoi. The timber was chiefly used in wagon making.
Sample Contributor contact details
Thabang Makola
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Phylum:
Tracheophyta
Estimated genome size:
768 million DNA base pairs (0.76 Gigabases)
Organism size:
15 cm
Distribution:
Knersvlakte
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
78.56 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
5.57 kilobases
Oxalis ericifolia
Heathleaf Sorrel

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
0.28 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
98.8%
Importance:
This species was first found in the 1940's, but only recently rediscovered and formally named. It is one of the most naturally rare South African Oxalis - this habitat specialist is known from a single rocky outcrop (Extent of Occurrence estimated at less than three hectares), but is not currently known to be threatened.
Sample Contributor contact details
Dr Kenneth Oberlander
University of Pretoria
Photo credit:
© G. Stafford
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