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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:

Angiosperms

Estimated genome size:

2070 million DNA base pairs ( 2.07 Gigabases)

Organism size:

2.5 meters (height)

Distribution:

Protea magnifica is widespread over almost all the major mountain ranges in the southwestern Cape from the Skimmelberg and Koue Bokkeveld to the Hottentots-Holland Mountains, Klein Swartberg, Riviersonderend Mountains and central Langeberg.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

40.24 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

10.12 kilobases

Protea magnifica

Bearded protea

Species Card Details

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

0.96 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

95.1% [S:95.1%, D:6.6%]

Importance:

Proteaceae not only form a characteristic part of the Cape Floristic Region, but also contribute to South Africa's indigenous floriculture industry, sustaining biodiversity, creating jobs and earning international value by export of flowers. Protea magnifica has the second largest flower head after P. cynaroides, the king protea. The queen protea is one of the most attractive and sought after proteas.

Sample Contributor contact details

Louisa Blomerus
Agricultural Research Council

Photo credit:

© L. Blomerus

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