HERBS
Hilton daisy, Gerbera aurantiaca
The edangered Hilton daisy is a strikingly beautiful grassland plant that is found on the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The species is under considerable threat of extinction due to habitat loss as a result of large scale commercial forestry, agriculture and urban develpment. Hilton daisies usually occur in rocky grassland between 900 and 1 500 m above sea level, and on warm slopes in shallow well-drained soils. They are found on sites that are burnt annually. The is a low-growing herb with thick, thong-like roots and fibrous leaves. The plants grow vegetatively by underground stems to form clones which are thought to be hundreds of years old. During the winter plants die back while new leaves form in spring. The crimson petals may vary in colour due to hybridasation with a close relative, Gerbera ambigua. The ray florets can vary in colour and may also be orange yellow or pink. The disc is black when the flower opens, changing in colour as the pollen forms. It flowers in spring forming specatucal masses so typical of plants in the daysie families.
Red hot poker, Kniphofia caulescens
K. caulescens is an evergreen perennial growing to 1,2m, with short, stout stems bearing tufts of broad-based, grey-green leaves. Also called the red-hot poker plant, this is a genus of flowering plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, and produces spikes of brightly coloured flowers in shades of orange, yellow or red. The flowers stick up well above the foliage and can also be bicoloured. It produces masses of nectar when in bloom, and attracts pollinators such as bees. It is usually found at high elevations. The herbacaceous species have grass-like leaves that can be 100 mm long, while perennial species have broader foliage.
Wild squill/Blue squil, Merwilla plumbea
The edangered Hilton daisy is a strikingly beautiful grassland plant that is found on the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The species is under considerable threat of extinction due to habitat loss as a result of large scale commercial forestry, agriculture and urban develpment. Hilton daisies usually occur in rocky grassland between 900 and 1 500 m above sea level, and on warm slopes in shallow well-drained soils. They are found on sites that are burnt annually. The is a low-growing herb with thick, thong-like roots and fibrous leaves. The plants grow vegetatively by underground stems to form clones which are thought to be hundreds of years old. During the winter plants die back while new leaves form in spring. The crimson petals may vary in colour due to hybridasation with a close relative, Gerbera ambigua. The ray florets can vary in colour and may also be orange yellow or pink. The disc is black when the flower opens, changing in colour as the pollen forms. It flowers in spring forming specatucal masses so typical of plants in the daysie families.
Red hot poker, Kniphofia caulescens
K. caulescens is an evergreen perennial growing to 1,2m, with short, stout stems bearing tufts of broad-based, grey-green leaves. Also called the red-hot poker plant, this is a genus of flowering plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, and produces spikes of brightly coloured flowers in shades of orange, yellow or red. The flowers stick up well above the foliage and can also be bicoloured. It produces masses of nectar when in bloom, and attracts pollinators such as bees. It is usually found at high elevations. The herbacaceous species have grass-like leaves that can be 100 mm long, while perennial species have broader foliage.
Wild squill/Blue squil, Merwilla plumbea
Blouberglelie
Suspected to live an average of 25 years, this highly sought after species has been exploited over most of its range for medicinal use. It is thought that the population of this species declined with at least 25 % decline over the past 75 years. Formerly known as Scilla natalensis, it was listed as vulnerable in 1999. This is a graceful perennial bulb, and with its tall plumes of blue flowers, the showiest of the South African genera. A rosette of 6 to 9 broad, tapering leaves emerges from the top of the bulb in spring. The leaves of a well-grown plant can reach a height of 30 to 50 cm with about equal spread. The inflorescence is a many-flowered slender raceme of bright violet-blue, or pale blue, or blue and white, star-shaped flowers. High volumes of these plants are traded in muti markets with harvesters reporting that the plants are becoming scarce and that overall bulb size is decreasing. The herb-traders and herbalists in the region consistently nominated the species as one the plants they considered to be scarce. In 1988 it was estimated that the quantity traded annually in the Durban medicinal plant trade was 95.5 tonnes, which was equivalent to about 432 000 bulbs traded annually. Merwilla plumbea has shown itself to be selectively toxic to mammals.
Suspected to live an average of 25 years, this highly sought after species has been exploited over most of its range for medicinal use. It is thought that the population of this species declined with at least 25 % decline over the past 75 years. Formerly known as Scilla natalensis, it was listed as vulnerable in 1999. This is a graceful perennial bulb, and with its tall plumes of blue flowers, the showiest of the South African genera. A rosette of 6 to 9 broad, tapering leaves emerges from the top of the bulb in spring. The leaves of a well-grown plant can reach a height of 30 to 50 cm with about equal spread. The inflorescence is a many-flowered slender raceme of bright violet-blue, or pale blue, or blue and white, star-shaped flowers. High volumes of these plants are traded in muti markets with harvesters reporting that the plants are becoming scarce and that overall bulb size is decreasing. The herb-traders and herbalists in the region consistently nominated the species as one the plants they considered to be scarce. In 1988 it was estimated that the quantity traded annually in the Durban medicinal plant trade was 95.5 tonnes, which was equivalent to about 432 000 bulbs traded annually. Merwilla plumbea has shown itself to be selectively toxic to mammals.