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Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

0.3 meters in height.

Size:

0.3 meters in height.

Distribution:

Found in grassland habitats across Southern Africa.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

122.04 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

9.24 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

2.75 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.6% [S: 60.8%, D: 38.8%]

Importance:

Some populations of this species in the Barberton region of South Africa have evolved the ability to hyperaccumulate nickel, making this species ideal for a comparative genomics approach to understand the evolution of this extreme phenotype.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Prof. Robert Ingle
University of Cape Town

Group:

Monocot

Estimated genome size:

Size:

160 mm

Distribution:

Widespread from southern Namibia to the southern part of the Western Cape, in semi-arid regions where it grows on flats and slopes. The plant is summer dormant surviving as a tuber, only appearing in autumn and grows form April to October when the region receives frontal winter rainfall.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

233.71 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

10.03 kilobases

Assembly N50:

3 206.48 kilobases

Contig number:

7610

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Hifiasm

Genome Length:

10.45 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.3% [S: 6.1%, D: 93.2%]

BUSCO database:

viridiplantae

Trachyandra falcata

Namaqua wild cabbage

Species Card Details

Importance:

Namaqua wild cabbage (Veldkool) is a useful and edible plant in season. The young fleshy inflorescences are boiled with salt and added to meat dishes. The local Khoi people ate the young fleshy inflorescence, cooking them like Asparagus shoots (https://pza.sanbi.org/trachyandra-falcata).

Sample Contributor contact details:

Dr Ernst Van Jaarsveld
Babylonstoren Farms

Date Published:

2025-09-22

Photo credit:

© J.-H. Keet

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