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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:

Streptophyta

Estimated genome size:

60 Million DNA base pairs (0.597 Giga bases)

Organism size:

3-7 m

Distribution:

This wild grape can be found starting from the Cape Peninsula, where it thrives in the ravines on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It extends along the coastline in a narrow band through the Eastern Cape, continuing up to northern KwaZulu-Natal, and then moves inland through Mpumalanga into Limpopo Province, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. It is typically found near forests and grows along river edges, climbing over trees and shrubs.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

13.04 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

18.05 kilobases

Rhoicissus tomentosa

Wild Grape

Species Card Details

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

583.24 Mb

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.8%

Importance:

The acidic fruits are edible and pleasant tasting but should be eaten in moderation. Fruits can be used to make jams, jelly, wine and vinegar. The poisonous tuberous rootstock is used in traditional medicine. When boiled in milk it can be used to expel intestinal worms in calves and is also used to facilitate delivery during pregnancy.

Sample Contributor contact details

Ernst Van Jaarsveld,
University of Western Cape | Babylonstoren

Photo credit:

© K. Barsakis

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