Table of Contents
- 1 What are alien plants in South Africa?
- 2 Where are orchid trees native to?
- 3 What plants are indigenous to South Africa?
- 4 Is an orchid tree an orchid?
- 5 What are indigenous plants in South Africa?
- 6 What flowers are indigenous to South Africa?
- 7 Why is the Cape Floristic Region losing its orchids?
- 8 What kind of plants are illegal in South Africa?
What are alien plants in South Africa?
Alien vegetation refers to plants that are not native in a country and have been brought into a country from another….The most threatening alien plants in the Western Cape according to Cape Nature are:
- Rooikrans.
- Black Wattle.
- Port Jackson.
- Silky hakea.
- Long-leafed wattle.
- Stinkbean.
- Australian Myrtle.
- Spider gum.
Where are orchid trees native to?
Orchid tree is native to southeastern China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and northern India.
Which plants in aquatic alien invasive species in South Africa?
Egeria densa (Brazilian Waterweed), first recorded in South Africa in 1963 from the Durban area, is currently regarded as the most widely distributed submerged invasive aquatic plant species in South Africa.
What are alien invader plants?
Invasive alien plant species (IAP) are species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural distribution threaten biological diversity. They are non-native to an ecosystem, and may cause economic or environmental harm.
What plants are indigenous to South Africa?
12 edible indigenous South African plants
- Pelargonium culallatum (wild malva)
- Pelargonium tomentosum (peppermint-scented pelargonium)
- Coleonema pulchellum (confetti bush)
- Oxalis pes-caprae (wild sorrel)
- Artemesia afra (African wormwood)
- Carissa macrocarpa (num-num)
- Tulbachia violacea (wild garlic)
Is an orchid tree an orchid?
Each year, the orchid tree blossoms with showy masses of large, sweetly scented, 5-inch-wide purple, pink, magenta, white or lavender blooms, each delicately resembling an orchid. Flowers are followed by slender brown flat seedpods that ripen after the flowering season has passed.
How many indigenous plants are in South Africa?
South Africa is home to more than 22 000 indigenous seed plants from almost 230 different families. It is also the proud home of 10% of the world’s flowering species, making it a major contributor to the global ecological scene.
What is the flower of South Africa?
king protea
The giant or king protea is widely distributed in the south-western and southern areas of the Western Cape, from the Cedarberg up to just east of Grahamstown. The artichoke-like appearance of the flower-heads of the king protea lead to the specific name ‘cynaroides’, which means ‘like cynara’ (the artichoke).
What are indigenous plants in South Africa?
What flowers are indigenous to South Africa?
Flowers of South Africa
- Barberton Daisy. The Barberton Daisy has become an emblem of South African organisations and was the symbol for the Blue Bulls, a famous rugby union based in Pretoria.
- Blood Lily.
- Bulbous Marshweed.
- Candelabra Flower.
- Cape Eelgrass.
- Day Waterlily.
- Devils Thorn.
- Flame Lily.
How many species of orchid are there in South Africa?
There are approximately 20 000 species and 796 genera of orchids distributed across the world. In southern Africa, orchids are widely represented with 55 genera and 494 species. Approximately 75% are endemic to this region.
What are invasive alien plants in South Africa?
A great deal of South Africa’s water is used by plants that do not belong here. They are called invasive alien plants. These plants are invasive because they spread and displace our natural trees and plants.
Why is the Cape Floristic Region losing its orchids?
The Cape Floristic Region has suffered great losses to orchid habitat, particularly on the lowlands of the region, due to overly frequent burning of habitats, urbanisation, poor agricultural practices and infesting alien vegetation. The result is that many orchid species are now lost forever or threatened with extinction.
What kind of plants are illegal in South Africa?
Non adherence can result in a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to five million rand (ten million if a second offense) and or a period of imprisonment of up to ten years. Gauteng: Balloon vine, Black wattle, Bloodberry, Bugweed, Castor oil plant. KwaZulu-Natal: African tulip tree, Ash leafed maple, Baloon vine, Bloodberry, Bugweed.