| Diosma haelkraalensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Diosma |
| Species: | D. haelkraalensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Diosma haelkraalensis I.Williams | |
Diosma haelkraalensis, or Hagelkraal's diosma, is a rare species of plant from South Africa.
These shrubs grow 10–30 cm (0.33–0.98 ft) tall. [1] [2] The tough branches have rough bark and are bent at all angles. The branchlets are densely covered in small, hairless leaves which are oppositely arranged. They have glands towards the midrib and margins. The slightly transparent margins curve back the center of the leaf. [2] Small white flowers are present between April and September. [1] They occur singly or in pairs at the ends of branches. [2]
Hagelkraal's diosma grows in crevices in the limestone of the Bredasdorp geological formation. It only occurs on an approximately 2.5 km (1.6 mi) stretch of the mountain range between Pearly Beach and Hagelkraal. [2]
Flowers are pollinated by insects. The seeds are dispersed by ants, which take them underground. [3]
The leaves of Hagelkraal's diosma has been described as having the same scent as true buchus. Chemical analysis has shown that the leaves contain the same sulphurous chemical (8-mercaptop-methan-3-one) that produces this scent in Agathosoma species. This is the first time that this compound has been found in a different genus. [4] This compound is in high demand from the flavour and fragrance industries which use small quantities to enhance flavours and fragrances. [4] Hagelkraal's diosma was found to have higher concentrations of the compound than Agathosma crenulata and Agathosma betulina - the buchu species which are currently used for commercial production, although the overall yield was lower. [4] while it is not currently used, this plant could be cultivated and utilsed by the fragrance and flavour industries. [4]
This species is considered to be critically rare. [5]
Agapanthus africanus, or the African lily, is a flowering plant from the genus Agapanthus found only on rocky sandstone slopes of the winter rainfall fynbos from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam. It is also known as the lily-of-the-Nile in spite of only occurring in South Africa.
Fynbos is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean climate and rainy winters. The fynbos ecoregion is within the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. In fields related to biogeography, fynbos is known for its exceptional degree of biodiversity and endemism, consisting of about 80% species of the Cape floral kingdom, where nearly 6,000 of them are endemic. This land continues to face severe human-caused threats, but due to the many economic uses of the fynbos, conservation efforts are being made to help restore it.
Agathosma is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, native to the southern part of Africa. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use despite their toxicity. In colloquial use however, the term is applied to a wider set of fragrant shrubs or substitutes.
Agathosma betulina is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of western South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats.
Agathosma crenulata is a flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, native to the lower elevation mountains of southwestern South Africa, where it occurs near streams in fynbos habitats. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1.5-2.5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, oval, 15–35 mm long and 7–18 mm broad. The flowers are white or pale pink, with five petals; the fruit is a five-parted capsule which splits open to release the seeds.
Leucadendron strobilinum, commonly called the peninsula conebush, is a plant species in the genus Leucadendron—forming part of the family Proteaceae. Confined to the Cape Peninsula, it reaches a height of up to 2.6 metres growing in southern, damp rocky slopes at an elevation of 500 to 1100m. Its conservation status is Near Threatened—a result of inappropriate fire management, fire-break clearing and alien plant invasions.
Agathosma serratifolia, known as longleaf buchu or long buchu, is an erect, South African shrub, belonging to the citrus family Rutaceae. It is one of about 135 species mainly occurring in the south-western Cape Province. There, it is found on mountain slopes, wooded ravines, and valleys. The leaves are simple, ovoid, slightly serrated, and 0.5-3.5cm long. In April and May, the plant produces 5-petalled flowers. 'Agathosma' = 'good smell', 'serratifolia' = 'serrate leaved'.
Aloiampelos commixta is a flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called Table Mountain aloe, and is a rare succulent plant that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. It naturally occurs only on the Table Mountain range, within the city of Cape Town.
Agathosma gonaquensis is a species of plant in the family Rutaceae. Its habitat is restricted to a tiny area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, it is critically endangered.
Acrodon is a genus of ice plants from South Africa. It comprises 8 species, mostly endangered and all restricted to the southern Cape regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Drimia exuviata ("Gifbol") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, indigenous to the south-western parts of South Africa.
Protea pudens, also known as the bashful sugarbush, is a low-growing, groundcover-like, flowering shrub in the genus Protea. It is only found growing in the wild in a small area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Protea angustata, also known as the Kleinmond sugarbush, is a flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Protea. This plant is endemic to the south-west Cape Region of South Africa.
Lobostemon capitatus is a species belonging to the forget-me-not family. It is endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it is found between Porterville and Bredasdorp.
Lobostemon curvifolius, the largeflower healthbush, is a species of the forget-me-not family from South Africa.
Lobostemon collinus, the pyjamabush or iron healthbush, is a species belonging to the forget me not family. It is known only from the fynbos biome of the Western Cape of South Africa.
Lobostemon daltonii, the Infanta healthbush, is a species of the forget-me-not family endemic to South Africa.
Leucadendron sheilae, the Lokenberg conebush, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus Leucadendron and forms part of the fynbos, a South African biogeographical region. The plant is native to the Western and Northern Capes, where it occurs at Lokenberg in the Bokkeveld Mountains. The plant grows mainly in hard sandstone sand on level crests at altitudes of 600 to 900 metres (2,000–3,000 ft). In Afrikaans it is known as Lokenberg-tolbos.
Lobostemon glaucophyllus, the smooth-leaved bush bugloss or grey healthbush, is a South African plant species belonging to the forget-me-not family.
Zyrphelis decumbens is a perrenial species of plant from the Bainskloof Mountains in South Africa.
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