Diastella proteoides (Flats silkypuff)
Protea family
Sprawling shrub with pink flowers resembling miniature proteas, with narrow
leaves. «Critically endangered, with some sources listing it as extinct in the
wild». |
Protea repens (Sugarbush)
Protea family
Tree with elongated leaves, bearing pink cup-shaped flowers, with copius, sweet
nectar. |
Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron (Pincushion)
Protea family
Sprawling shrub with narrow, erect leaves, bearing characteristic,
sweetly-scented yellow flowers. «Vulnerable». |
Leucospermum parile (Malmesbury pincushion)
Protea family
Erect, spreading shrub with narrow, silvery leaves, bearing scented, yellow-red
flowers. «Critically endangered». |
Serruria (Sandveld spiderhead)
Protea family
Shrub with fine leaves, bearing clusters of sweetly-scented, creamy pink
flowerheads. «Vulnerable». |
Leucadendron (Conebush)
Protea family
Small tree, leaves typical of the protea family, yellow to red at the tips.
Female plant bears cones. Most leucadendron species are «critically endangered». |
Belladonna (March lily)
Amaryllis family
Bulb. Clusters of blushed-pink, funnel-shaped flowers resembling trumpets borne
on green, fleshy stem during Autumn (Mar). Strap-shaped leaves resembling
agapanthus emerge after flowering. Seed: large fleshy pearls also borne in pods
in clusters. |
Haemanthus (Paintbrush lily)
Amaryllis family
Bulb, brilliant crimson, candle-holder shaped flower emerging from ground on
fleshy red-white stem; yellow brush-like stamens (Winter, Mar-Apr). Two
leathery, finely-haired leaves emerge at ground level after flowering. One of the first Cape bulbs to be transported
and cultivated in Holland. «Rare». |
Brunsvigia (Chandelier/ Candelabra lily)
Amaryllis family.
Large, onion-shaped, deeply-buried bulbs. Chandelier-shaped ball of
pink-red flowers borne on fleshy stem (Mar-May).
Once dry, the chandeliers tumble across open
terrain in the wind. |
Gethyllis (Kukumakranka)
Amaryllis family
Bulb, delicate white flowers resembling small St Joseph’s lilies emerging from
the ground (Summer, Dec-Jan). When not in flower, spiral, strap-shaped leaves,
brilliant green. Fragrant fruit, fleshy and worm-shaped,
emerge in early winter and were traditionally used to flavour brandy and for
perfume. Kukumakranka is the Khoisan word for the plant. «Near threatened». |
Strumeria (Cape Snowflake)
Amaryllis family
Dainty bulb, with threadlike leaves. White or pink flowers (Mar-Apr). |
Wachendorfia (Butterfly lily)
Bloodroot family
Rhizome, bearing spike of yellow and apricot-coloured flowers in spring. |
Moraea
Iris family
Moraea Neglecta: corm, bearing yellow, Iris-shaped flower, petals unfurled in
show during sunny afternoons only, beautifully marked, textured and scented, on erect
stalk. Spring (Sep-Nov). |
Watsonia
Iris family
Robust corm, bearing tough, lance-shaped leaves; orange-red, tubular flowers
borne on erect stalks from Sep-Dec (Spring-Summer). Bears numerous
wind-dispersed seeds in capsules that ripen and burst open, and rustle in the
wind. 50cm-1.5m in height. Young leaves browsed by antelope. |
Babiana nana (Bobbejantjie)
Iris family
Brilliant patches of mauve-and-white to purple-and-white flowers with glossy
short, sword-shaped, ribbed leaves, appearing from deeply buried corms.
Flowering during Spring (Aug-Sep). 5cm-15cm in height. Name derived from
Afrikaans «Bobbejaantjie» - baboons that favour this corm. «Endangered». |
Babiana ringens (Rat-tailed babiana)
Iris family
Brilliant crimson-orange flowers, symmetrically arranged like basketry, with
erect glossy sword-shaped, vertically-ribbed leaves, appearing from deeply
buried corms. Main stem, resembling a rat’s tail, acts as a perch for
sugarbirds. Flowers in Spring (Aug-Sep). 10cm-25cm in height. |
Gladiolus carinatus (Afrikaner/ Blou-pypie)
Iris family
Beautifully scented, bell-shaped pink-mauve flowers, with pale creamy yellow
centers, borne on delicate, erect stems, between 30cm-60cm in height. Flowering
in Spring (Aug-Sep). Slender, lance-shaped leaves. Cormous. You will smell the
heady, violet fragrance well before spotting the plant. Winged seeds form in
capsules. |
Gladiolus caryophyllaceus
Iris family
Beautifully scented, bell-shaped, mid-to-deep pink flowers, streaked and
speckled with deeper tones, borne on robust, erect stems, between 30cm-90cm in
height. Flowering in Spring (Aug-Sep). Lance-shaped leaves. Cormous. Winged
seeds form in capsules. This plant was rediscovered at Nirvana Farm in 2005,
after thought being extinct in this area for more than 130 years. «Seeds from the
original specimen we rediscovered have been investured in the Millennium Seed
Bank at Kew Gardens. » |
Gladiolus jonquilliodorus
Iris family
Carnation scented, bell-shaped creamy yellow flowers, streaked and speckled with
brown tones, borne on robust, erect stems, between 30cm-90cm in height.
Flowering in Summer (Dec), so rarely seen. Lance-shaped leaves. Cormous. This
was first seen of this species in this area. «Endangered». |
Gladiolus alatus (Kalkoentjie)
Iris family
Small plant with multi-coloured flowers, with distinct configuration and
colouration of upper and lower tepals. Flowers in spring. |
Pseudoselago (Powderpuff)
Sutera family
Annual, flowering in spring and summer, with compact, flat clusters of mauve
flowers borne on a spike. |
Adenandra (China Flower/ Porseleinblom)
Citrus family
Ericoid shrub, with lovely star-shaped, pink flowers, with deeper coloured
centres extending outwards in a thin swipe, borne on branch tips. Flowers most
of the year (Jan-Oct).
«Rare». |
Amphithalea ericifolia (Persbossie)
Pea family
Erect shrublet, with lance-shaped leaves, bearing clusters of deep pink to mauve
flowers in spring. «Critically endangered». |
Lachenalia (Cape Cowslip)
Hyacinth family
Small, relatively deeply buried bulb, emerging usually en masse, after first
winter rains (Apr-Jul), and soon after bright deep-pink to red and even orange,
tubular flowers appear, borne in clusters on purple pedicel. Delicate,
lance-shaped leaves, purple to green, often spotted. 5cm-10cm in height. They
are the first to herald a coming winter. |
Salvia lanceolata (Wild sage)
Mint family
Aromatic grey shrub, bearing pink-brown flowers on sturdy stems. |
Ruschia tecta (Turret fig)
Ice plant family
Erect shrub with fleshy, needle-shaped leaves, bearing clusters of purple
flowers that open in sunlight. «Endangered». |
Lampranthus aureus
(Golden brightfig)
Ice plant family
Erect or spreading shrub, with small fleshy leaves. In spring bearing masses of brilliant
orange flowers that open in sunlight. «Endangered». |
Erica ferrea
(Iron heath)
Erica family
Erect shrub with typical ericoid leaves, bearing masses of tiny, blueberry-shaped pink
flowers in clusters. «Endangered». |
Erica mammosa (Ninepin heath)
Erica family
Erect shrub with typical ericoid leaves, bearing fleshy, tubular flowers in
variations of cream, pink, orange and even green in clusters on the tip of the
stem. |
Oxalis (Sorrel)
Oxalis family
Perennial, low-growing plant with clover-like leaves, bearing pink, orange,
yellow or white flowers that unfurl in sunlight.
|
Petalacte coronate
(Wildesewejaartjie)
Daisy family
Shrublet with grey felted leaves, with clusters of white, papery flowerheads.
|
Struthiola ciliata
(Featherhead)
Daphne family
Erect shrub, with honey-scented cream to yellow flowers and small lance-shaped
leaves on tapering stem. |
Gnidia (Saffron bush)
Daphne family
Ericoid shrub with pale pink, scented flowers borne in a head on branch tips. |
Senecio
Daisy family
Annual shrub, with purpleflowers on long, erect peduncles.
Also occurs in yellow and white. Glossy, hairy green leaves. |
Disa draconis (White disa)
Orchid family
Slender perennial tuber, with narrow basal leaves that are usually dry when the
plant is in flower at the start of summer. Lightly scented. «Endangered». |
Disa cornuta
Orchid family
Robust, tall tuberous perennial, that bears purple and white flowers, each with
a distinctive dark spot, borne on a spike.
|
Stylapteris fruticolosis (Flats brickleaf)
Penaea family
Erect shrub, with attractive, paddle-shaped leaves. Small, yellow-red flowers and seed pods borne
along stems. «Endangered».
|
Roella
Bellflower family
Sprawling shrublet, bearing creamy white flowers in summer that open in sunlight
and are lightly scented. «Vulnerable». |
Romulea (Froetang)
Iris family
Perennial cormous plant with sturdy, threadlike leaves, bearing creamy white trumpet-shaped
flowers with yellow centres,
in spring. |
Diosma (Bitter Buchu)
Citrus family
Ericoid shrub, used medicinally and for flavourings and fragrance. Flowers and
starfruit-shaped seed capsules borne on stem tips. Traditionally used to flavour brandy. |
Macrostylis villosa (Hairy bigstyle)
Citrus family
Rounded, low-growing shrub with deep green, lance-shaped leaves, with
attractive, tight clusters of white flowers, with pronounced stamens, on branch
tips. «Endangered». |
Rafnia angulata angulata
Pea family
Erect shrub bearing masses of yellow flowers. Seeds in pea-shaped pods. |
Aspalathus retroflexa bicolor
Pea family
Sprawling groundcover, bearing yellow to orange and purple flowers. Small, spiny
leaves. «Critically endangered». |
Microdon capitatus (Katstertbos)
Sutera family
Spreading, ericoid shrub, bearing spikes of white flowers in summer. «Endangered». |
Trichocephalus stipularis (Hondegesiggie)
Phylica family
Ericoid shrub, with sweetly scented, small, woolly flowers borne on stem tips.
Distinct stipules at the base of leathery leaves. |
