1. New Albums and some changes
The latest Albums on genera of South African plants added to the Operation Wildflower Site are the ones on Cyrtanthus, Dicoma and Strumaria. This means that photos and stories of plants belonging to these genera already on the Site, together with some new ones, have been moved from the more general Albums called Bulbs and Herbs respectively into their own new Albums under Genera.
There is a genus Album in every case where enough material has been accumulated to warrant a stand-alone grouping of photos and stories. There are now more than 220 such genera Albums. The biggest ones (most photos) belong to the genera Crassula, Euphorbia, Pelargonium, Aloe and Erica. Keep watching, more will be added. If there is no genus Album yet on the plant you are looking for, check under Types, the grouping that the Site was started off with, accessible via the pictured items shown on the right. The Search Box may yield more, for plants and related material are also shown in Albums on Habitat, Regions and Parks and Gardens.
In order to access items on a plant of interest, enter its botanical name in the Search Box. Entering other words or names will access what is contained in the Albums database. The latest Regions Album is the one on Nature's Valley and the latest Parks and Gardens Album is on Tietiesbaai also known as the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.
2. Want to talk about a plant or an Album item?
There is a new way of communicating with the Editor of this Site regarding any of the Album Items.
Comments, questions, corrections, information and suggestions can be put to the Editor by using the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Please ensure that the Album Item concerned is clearly identified. Type its exact title as well as the Album Name in the Subject Line of your email. Please also state your name.
Similarly, communication regarding the functioning or technical aspects of the Site can be directed to the Webmaster at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3. Reduced Mobile Site for Cell Phone Users
Operation Wildflower now also offers a reduced Mobile Site for cell phone use that only presents the Albums contents. This is aimed at overcoming display difficulties on some of the mobile devices in use for quick reference. The reduction found in the Mobile Site doesn't affect the full set of photos and stories of Operation Wildflower, only in diminishing the Site's secondary details that may make it hard to access the items on a small screen.
It is best to use the normal or full Operation Wildflower Site on computers, iPads and devices with bigger screens, as well as those that present unimpaired display of full details and access to all material on offer.
Should viewing difficulties be experienced on your device, click here to access the Mobile Site.
4. Subject Index
A Subject Index of a selection of topics touched on in Album Item text has been started, other than plant species. Access it via Information.
The Album Item Title should be clicked upon to open the Item dealing with the Topic.
Check in the Search Box for yet more subjects not added to the Subject Index list yet.
Botanical name |
Erythrina lysistemon |
Other names |
(Common) coral tree; lucky-bean tree; koraalboom (Afrikaans); mophete (Tswana); umsinsi (Zulu) |
Family |
Papilionoideae |
Dimensions |
A small to medium deciduous tree of about 6 m with a spreading crown; in ideal circumstances it may sometimes reach 12 m in height |
Description of stem |
Smooth, light grey to yellow-brown varying colouring; scattered thorns on younger branches occasionally persist; the wood is soft |
Description of leaves |
Trifoliolate, up to 17 cm, on a long petiole that often has scattered hooked spines which also occur on the leaf midrib and larger veins; apex narrowly attenuate, base broadly tapering, margin entire |
Description of flowers |
Dense heads of narrow, outwardly curved, bright red or scarlet flowers hanging from long sturdy stalks and supported by a sturdy greyish calyx; flowering during late winter and spring before the leaves appear, sometimes heralding crop planting season to indigenous tribes; one petal on each flower envelopes the rest; rich in nectar, popular with nectarivore bird species |
Desciption of seed/fruit |
A long narrow seed pod of up to 15 cm that soon turns grey, brown or black and has marked constrictions between the individual orange to red coloured seeds; occuring in summer |
Description of roots |
|
Variation |
There is unconfirmed mention of a light pink flowering variety; E. sykesii found in |
Propagation and cultivation |
Grown from seed, cuttings or truncheons; seed said to germinate better if scarified (surface scratched, weakened by applying sandpaper); fast-growing, somewhat drought tolerant, but thrives in good summer rain and well-drained soil |
Tolerances |
Grows well in soil of varying acidity |
Uses |
A common and popular garden tree, frequently planted in public parks and along streets; the bark is used in preparation of an infusion used to ease childbirth; the bark or crushed leaves used in treating open sores and arthritis; the plant is also used in treating ear ache; the seeds contain a substance that prevents blood-clotting and may have value in treating thrombosis; inconclusive research has been reported on an extract having been used in treating menopausal problems (www.bepress.com); browsed by several game species; the seeds are used as lucky charms or beads for necklaces |
Ecological rarity |
Common |
Pests and diseases |
Prone to spider mites |
Other |
Similar to E. caffra that grows in the eastern coastal parts of |
Location |
Open woodland, mountain slopes, bushveld and coastal thickets; medium to higher rainfall areas; wide range of altitudes |
Distribution (SA provinces) |
|
Country |
South Africa; Swaziland; Zimbabwe; Angola; Mozambique; Botswana; Mozambique; Malawi |
|
Info: Palgrave; www.plantzafrica.com |