The Green Heath, Erica sessiliflora, is one of the unmistakable heathers of the fynbos. With over 600 species of Erica in the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region it is not surprising to find that each species will share at least some characters in common with other species. Erica sessiliflora…
Common names are often descriptive but few are as ironic in their description as that of Climber’s Friend, Cliffortia ruscifolia. Climber’s Friend is a member of the Rose Family, Rosaceae, and the most recognized member of the large Cape genus, Cliffortia. The species is well-known for growing amongst rocks and…
It is not just animals that are nocturnal, some flowers also come into their own as dusk gathers. Hesperantha radiata is one of these flowers. During daylight hours, the dark red outer petals are closed firmly around the anthers and style. The flowers are almost invisible to a passerby and…
With its central pointed cone of dense black hair, Protea longifolia is one of the easier members of the genus Protea to recognise. The scientific name refers to the long narrow leaves, which are a better diagnostic character as there are other species with black hairy central cones. The leaves…
An elephant-shrew is a perfect example of an oxymoron mammal name. The name fuses the largest living land mammal with one of the smallest to refer to a completely unrelated animal. The Cape Rock Elephant-Shrew, Elephantulus edwardii, is shrew-like in general appearance, but like all elephant-shrews, it has the exceptionally…
Snowdrops in Europe are renowned for appearing in depths of winter. The drooping white flowers push their way through the snow. Cape Snowdrops, Crassula capensis, reminded the early European settlers of these popular flowers, though the snow was inevitably lacking. Cape Snowdrops appear mostly from May to July (at least…
