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-tortuosum-Topaz.jpg)
Group:
Eudicot
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
Assembly N50:
72 522.7 kilobases
Contig number:
3 325
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
0.76 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
96.8% [S: 89.7%, D: 7.2%]
BUSCO database:
viridiplantae
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.
Date Published:
2026-10-01
Photo credit:
© N. Makunga
Flora
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