There is virtually no area of South Africa without its single floral treasure or species of extra attractiveness or interest.
These include succulents that look almost exactly like stones (lithops), mangroves, tree ferns, original food plants and those that would kill you if you took a bite, and - one of the most promising fields of study in South Africa - a large whole of plants of healthful value.
Some of these, such as the Aloe ferox, a purgative, were discovered to be medicinally useful by the early European colonists; many more have long been known and used by indigenous African people.
Yet for all the spectacular plants to be found, maybe the landscape that most eloquently conjures up the spirit of South African flora is the typical savannah, with its (often dry) grasses and more-or-less thickly scattered shrubs and thorn trees.
Lingering images may vary widely, from fynbos field to subtropical forest, but for many South Africans the thorn tree is the nesting place of their hearts.
Did You Know?
* The healthful plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus (wild ginger or isiPhephetho) has been exploited to extinction in the KwaZulu/Natal region. Warburgia salutaris (pepper-bark tree or isiBhaha) is on the brink of extinction in this region. Supplies of these plants now come from Gauteng and Swaziland.
* Ring-barking of most large stinkwood and assegai trees in KwaZulu/Natal has reduced the numbers of these trees drastically and this bark is now obtained from areas within the old Transkei.
* Although plant material forms the basis of most original medicines, animal parts are also used. As with plants, there is concern that exploitation of unavoidable animals is contributing to a serious decline in their numbers. Of single concern are the python, pangolin, striped weasel, giant girdled lizard, and the Cape, lappet-faced, and whiteheaded vultures. What You Can Do * Grow healthful plants! Silverglen Nursery can provide a straightforward starter pack with instructions on how to get started and also offer one-day educational workshops for curious people.
* If you are a landowner, reconsider supplying seed to Silverglen Nursery, the Natal Parks Board, the KwaZulu Dept. Nature Conservation, or local original healers.
* If you own, or know of land that is to be developed, sense your local conservation department or regional Botanical society field to negotiate salvaging the healthful plants.
