Tanqua Karoo
Semi-arid and arid desert east of the Cedarberg Mountains. It is famous not only for its highly endemic flora but also is the locality of the outrageously outlandish Afrika Burn festival that takes place at Tankwa Town every May. The flowering period is typically brief and is often early relative to the rest of the Western Cape, typically peaking in August. In summer it is blisteringly hot with dust-devils raking the molten metamorphic rock covering portions of the Tanqua basin. Much of the Tanqua is used for grazing though there are increasing numbers of reserves including the Tanqua Karoo National Park that provide some measure of protection. The border between the Northern and Western Cape cuts through the Tanqua Karoo. Perhaps the best known of the plants is the Hoodia (Ngaap) that occurs naturally in the area and has been exploited as an appetite suppressant. Sceletium is a plant imbibed or sniffed for its energising and euphoric properties. Some creatures unique to the Tanqua include the terrifying Stofadil that terrorizes tourists to the area and has a particular prediliction for car tyres.
Nodes
Geissorhiza
Gethyllis roggeveldensis
Hermannia cuneifolia
Arctotis
Albuca concordiana
Moraea
Moraea pritzeliana
Moraea
Cyanella
Pages
Taxonomy term
Lachenalia
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For Werner de Lachenal (1736–1800), Swiss professor of botany and anatomy at the University of Basel from 1776, eminent for his knowledge of European plants. He obtained his PhD in 1763. He was a pupil of Haller, who was one of his main correspondents, providing him with details of flora and their location around Basel, the Jura mountains, Alsat and Bruntrutain. He was a friend of Linnaeus. He authored several monographs in Acta Helvetica. While at the university he substantially improved its botanical garden, the oldest in Switzerland, that had fallen into disrepair. He continually strived to obtain funds to reconstruct and develop the garden and to pay for its gardener. He opened the garden to the public to cover expenditures.
Lachenalia violacea
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From the Latin ‘violacea’ / ‘violaceus’ meaning ‘purple’
Lapeirousia plicata
(Haascabong){"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Latin plicatus = 'folded'
Lobostemon
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Gk. lobos = lobe; stemon = thread, stamen; referring to the filaments being opposite the corolla lobes.
Manulea
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La. manus = a hand, plus diminutive; referring to the corolla’s finger-like divisions – the appearance of the five spreading (upright) corolla lobes.
Manulea
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La. manus = a hand, plus diminutive; referring to the corolla’s finger-like divisions – the appearance of the five spreading (upright) corolla lobes.
Massonia
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For Francis Masson (1741–1805), British gardener and plant collector for Kew Gardens. He was sent by Sir Joseph Banks to collect plants in South Africa and sailed with Captain James Cook to the Cape, where he stayed from 1772–1775. Two of his three expeditions were made jointly with Carl Peter Thunberg, who named this genus for him. From 1786–1795, he visited Madeira, the Canary Islands and Azores, West Indies, North America and North Africa. He collected more than 500 specimens including, now household names, the bird-of-paradise flower Strelitzia reginae and the arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica among others such as Gladioli, Lobelia, Geranium, Pelargonium, Protea and Mesembryanthemum. He authored Stapeliae Novae on new South African succulents he discovered (1796).
Massonia
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For Francis Masson (1741–1805), British gardener and plant collector for Kew Gardens. He was sent by Sir Joseph Banks to collect plants in South Africa and sailed with Captain James Cook to the Cape, where he stayed from 1772–1775. Two of his three expeditions were made jointly with Carl Peter Thunberg, who named this genus for him. From 1786–1795, he visited Madeira, the Canary Islands and Azores, West Indies, North America and North Africa. He collected more than 500 specimens including, now household names, the bird-of-paradise flower Strelitzia reginae and the arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica among others such as Gladioli, Lobelia, Geranium, Pelargonium, Protea and Mesembryanthemum. He authored Stapeliae Novae on new South African succulents he discovered (1796).
Massonia citrina
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From the Latin citrus = 'citrus' or 'lemon'; typically referring either to a lemon-yellow or a citrus smell
Mesembryanthemum
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Gk. mesos = in the middle, between; embryon = fruit (embryo); anthemon = flower. The flowers need mid-day sunshine to open.
Moraea
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Linnaeus married Sara Elisabeth Moraea; her father was Dr. Johan Moraeus, the town physician of Falun. The name "Morea" was originally given by Philip Miller after "Robert More of Shropshire", but was taken over by Linnaeus and changed to Moraea.
Moraea
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Linnaeus married Sara Elisabeth Moraea; her father was Dr. Johan Moraeus, the town physician of Falun. The name "Morea" was originally given by Philip Miller after "Robert More of Shropshire", but was taken over by Linnaeus and changed to Moraea.