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Group:
Moncot
Estimated genome size:
50 to 100 cm in height
Size:
50 to 100 cm in height
Distribution:
Endemic to South Africa, the Miracle Clivia Lily is known to occur in the Oorlogskloof area near the town of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape. The species has only been recorded in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve, where two subpopulations are found on the Bokkeveldberge plateau.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
426.45 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
12.38 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
15.12 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.3% [S: 69.9%, D: 29.4%]
Importance:
Clivia mirabilis survives in an unusually arid environment compared with other Clivia species, which is why it is known as the “miracle lily”. Its distinctive hardiness has made it desirable for breeders seeking to improve ornamental Clivia lines. However, heavy illegal poaching has removed thousands of plants from the wild. This leaves the remaining population dangerously small and at risk of extinction in its natural habitat.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Felix Middleton
Clivia Society of South Africa
Group:
Monocot
Estimated genome size:
Size:
0.3 to 0.5m tall
Distribution:
Distribution includes the Namibia, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
105.33 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
11.21 kilobases
Assembly N50:
127.85 kilobases
Contig number:
8 626
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Flye
Genome Length:
0.46 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
98.4% [S: 79.1%, D: 19.3%]
BUSCO database:
viridiplantae
Xerophyta viscosa
Small black-stick lily
Importance:
Xerophyta species are desiccation tolerant, with leaves able to survive dehydration to below 5% relative water content. To identify the regulatory switches that protect against desiccation, multiple Xerophyta genomes can be compared. Although a genome assembly attributed to X. viscosa has been published, it is actually that of X. schlechteri; assembling the true X. viscosa genome will correct this and help identify conserved regulatory switches.
Date Published:
2026-02-10
Photo credit:
© M. Prag
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