Groot Karoo (Great Karoo)
Karoo is a Khoisan word that means 'dry, hard, thirst land'. This semi-desert interior region is a unique arid zone, considered a wonder of the scientific world. It boasts the richest diversity of succulents (over 9,000 species) and greatest variety of land tortoises on the planet, as well as the Western Cape's largest collection of San (Bushman) rock art and the country's first Braille fossil trail which boasts a record number of mammal-like reptiles dating as far back as 250 million years. Although the Groot Karoo initially appears to have been unscarred by time, those who dig deeper will find that it has a fascinating historical and cultural heritage.
At the 19th century, Imperial British forces moved across its vast plains to engage the Boers in the Anglo-Boer War, leaving a trail of British graves to mark their northward path. In the past century it made medical history, being the birthplace of both Dr Christiaan Barnard (heart-transplant pioneer) and Dr Emil Hoffa (founder of the modern science of orthopedics). A tourist route through Kwa-Mandlenkosi Township in Beaufort West continues on to Nelspoort (where the largest collection of San rock art is found) and the quiet town of Murraysburg.
South of Beaufort West along the N1 are the small settlements of Leeu Gamka and Merweville and the picturesque and historic town of Prince Albert, with its thriving dried fruit industry. Laingsburg, further south on the N1, is the most geologically interesting area of the Groot Karoo. Traces of the devastating flood of 1981 can still be seen on some of the buildings. Still further south is Matjiesfontein, a small fragment of Queen Victoria's Empire.
Excerpt from: http://www.southafrica.com/western-cape/groot-karoo/
Nodes
Cucumis africanus
Albuca setosa
Bulbine abyssinica
Indigofera meyeriana
Pteronia mucronata
Eriocephalus punctulatus
Felicia hirsuta
Microloma armatum
Senecio vimineus
Pages
Taxonomy term
Menodora juncea
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From the Latin junceus = ‘resembling a reed’
Microloma armatum
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From the Latin armatus = ‘armed’; typically either with hairs or spines
Monechma incanum
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From the Latin incanus = 'grey'
Muraltia macrocarpa
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Greek makros = ‘big’ and karpos = ‘fruit’
Oncosiphon
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Gk. onkos = bulb, swollen mass; siphon = tube. The base of the corolla tube is tumorous (swollen).
Ornithoglossum
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Gk. ornithos = bird; glossa = tongue; referring to the narrow tepals.
Osteospermum microphyllum
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From Latin micro = 'small' and phyllum = 'leaf'
Osteospermum sinuatum
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Latin sinuatus = "sinuate" which means to have a wavy leaf margin
Oxalis
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From the Greek oxys = sharp, sour or acid and (h)als = salt. The plant is frequently consumed for its sour taste caused by the oxalic acid, particularly the flowering stalks of O. pes-caprae. In large quantities the oxalic acid inhibits digestion and in stock leads to the condition 'dikpens' or bloated belly.
Pelargonium articulatum
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From the Latin articulatus meaning ‘with joints’
Pelargonium griseum
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Latin griseus = 'grey' or 'ashen'
Pelargonium karooicum
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Khoisan/Khoekhoe word garo /karo / !garo-b = 'desert' or 'hard'; referring to the inland semi-desert Karoo region of South Africa
Pelargonium multicaule
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
Pelargonium tetragonum
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
From the Greek tetra = 'four' and gonum = 'knee', 'node' or 'joint'. May refer to nodes, joints or four-angled stems