#floraofsouthafrica

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Mesembs are succulents that mimic their environment, they are among the most drought-tolerant plant species. See how this faceted-quartz-like Karoo rose (Lapidaria margaretae) matches its habitat (white quartz plain in Namaqualand) perfectly in South Africa.

#floraofsouthafrica #succulent #mesembs #karoorose #lapidaria #namaqualand #南非植物 #魔玉 #番杏科 #aizoaceae

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Let’s talk about bulbs! Bulb, or a more technical term: geophyte, is used as a catch all term to discuss any plants that have underground, fleshy storage structures. There are multiple types of underground storage structures, including: true bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tuberous roots, and tubers. The South African Cape region is home to over 2,000 geophyte taxa and some are currently putting on a brilliant display in our South African collection. 🇿🇦 Amaryllis belladonna is a member of the Amaryllidaceae which occurs in the southwestern Cape region. The leaves of A. belladonna are produced after the plant flowers, a mechanism known as hysteranthy. 🌸 Haemanthus coccineus, or blood flower, is another member of the Amaryllidaceae and has a laterally compressed bulb. In southern Africa it typically blooms from February to April, however here in San Francisco we’ll see it blooming throughout the late summer and early spring. 🌱 Aristea ecklonii is a small perennial in the Iridaceae. Unlike the Amaryllidaceae plants, A. ecklonii, a member of the Iridaceae, has rhizomes as it underground storage. Aristea ecklonii has a wide native range and is found from Uganda to South Africa. 🌿 #sfbotanicalgarden #floraofsouthafrica #amaryllis #haemanthus #aristea #bulbs #geophytes (at San Francisco Botanical Garden) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ULKnYA5nI/?igshid=19de7v7jve4fb

#sfbotanicalgarden #floraofsouthafrica #amaryllis #haemanthus #aristea #bulbs #geophytes

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Karoo gansmis (Avonia papyracea) is said to mimic bird droppings to avoid herbivores in the desert of the Northern Cape. But I suspect it resembles more caterpillars and thus may be more attractive to birds? (the Chinese name is 银蚕 , which means silver silkworm). The white scales (stipules) function as shade clothes to protect the small green leaves underneath from the harsh desert sun. How clever it is!

#floraofsouthafrica #Avonia #plantmimicry #crypticplant #南非植物 #植物隐身术 #银蚕 #回欢草科

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Is this Serruria villosa? It matches all the descriptions I could find, except this was in late August, and the flower was white (supposed to be April-July and yellow, respectively).

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #surruria #proteaceae #南非植物 #山龙眼科 #娇娘花属

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Purple Broom (Polygala virgata), originally from southern Africa. It was introduced to Australia as a garden plant, but it managed to escape the gardens and naturalised itself in SE and SW Australia. This was photographed in Brisbane Water NP of Sydney.

#floraofsouthafrica #floraofaustralia #sydneywildflower #polygalaceae #polygalavirgata #environmentalweed #远志科 #澳洲植物 #南非植物

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Some South African Oxalis species I saw in Western Cape.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #oxalis #南非植物 #酢浆草

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Viewing the quiver tree from a different angle. Orbicule Hill, Northern Cape South Africa.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #choje #kokerboom #quivertree #Aloedichotoma #Aloidendrondichotomum #南非植物 #二歧芦荟

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Gardenia thunbergia, a wild gardenia from SE South Africa and Eswatini. The hard fruits are consumed by large mammals such as elephants, and the animals thus help in seed dispersal.

#floraofsouthafrica #gardenia #南非植物 #栀子花

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South African plant: Plukenet's heath (Erica plukenetii). Relatively easy to identify, as it has rosemary-like foliage and far-exserted stamens.

#floraofsouthafrica #ericaceae #heath #ericaplukenetii #南非植物 #欧石楠 #杜鹃花科

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Spiky purple gorse Kastybos, persblommetjie Muraltia heisteria

This South African shrub has naturalised in Australia, especially in Sydney. Originally from the Cape region.

#floraofsouthafrica #南非植物 #远志科 #polygalaceae #Muraltia

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Ornamental pincushion/Bobbejaanklou （Leucospermum cordifolium）, endemic to Western Cape.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #proteaceae #leucospermum #南非植物 #山龙眼科 #针垫花属

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The yellow form of ornamental pincushion/bobbejaanklou （Leucospermum cordifolium), endemic to Western Cape.

#floraofsouthafrica #proteaceae #南非植物 #山龙眼科 #针垫花属 #pincushion #leucospermum

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Massonia amoena, a new species described in 2014, from the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanbulb #Massoniaamoena #Hyacinthaceae #Asparagaceae #南非植物 #天门冬科 #风信子亚科 #魔镜花属

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Sand buchu (Agathosma glabrata) on the west coast of the Western Cape. It's an endangered species and there are only three known locations in the wild. (I am not sure if this is one of them) Very aromatic Rutaceae shrub.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #rutaceae #agathosma #南非植物 #芸香科

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A miniature rock garden near Cistrusdal Western Cape. The small bulbous plant is Ornithogalum maculatum (I think). Unfortunately, it was in the early morning, the flowers were not open yet.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanbulb #Rooidirkie #asparagaceae #南非植物 #天门冬科 #伞长青属

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The angriest and evilest plant I've ever photographed: the mask flower (Alonsoa unilabiata) of Northern Cape, which is an annual plant from the family of Scrophulariaceae.

#floraofsouthafrica #southafricanplant #Alonsoaunilabiata #Scrophulariaceae #南非植物 #玄参科 #假面花属