South African Indigenous Plants (3)

Also posting it for Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge -Plant Life

The primary vegetation type of the Western Cape is fynbos, a term derived from Dutch and Afrikaans words meaning “fine bush,” which typically grows on fairly nutrient-depleted mostly sandstone-derived acidic soils and is dominated by sclerophyllous, that is, evergreen, hard-leaved, flowering shrubs, many of which are proteas, ericas, cape reeds (Restios) , and geophytes (bulbed plants).  Fynbos is technically described as a vegetation that has more than a 5% cover of Restios and exists in a fire-controlled ecosystem characterized by significant winter rainfall, nutrient-poor soils, and exceptional floristic richness and endemism. 

BULBINE – NATALENSIS, Ibhucu (Zulu), Rooiwortel (Afrikaans)

Bulbine natalensis is a hardy, evergreen, drought-resistant, succulent plant with bright-green, softly-fleshy leaves that form a basal rosette.

Star-shaped, yellow flowers are held in densely-packed spikes at the ends of long, gracefully-arching, flowering stems throughout the year.The pollen- and nectar-rich flowers attract pollinating insects to the garden.

It is an ideal rockery or bedding plant and also makes a worthwhile container plant.It has many medicinal uses, particularly for quick relief when used on stings and bites.

BULBINE – NATALENSIS, Ibhucu (Zulu), Rooiwortel (Afrikaans)

Good pollinating plant:
The pollen rich flowers attract pollinating insects to the garden

Good nectar plant:
Insects love the nectar produced by its rich flowers

Medicinal:
It has many medicinal uses, particularly for quick relief when used on stings and bites.

BULBINE – NATALENSIS, Ibhucu (Zulu), Rooiwortel (Afrikaans)

BULBINE – NATALENSIS, Ibhucu (Zulu), Rooiwortel (Afrikaans)