Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd

Common names: Bushman's Poison; Boesmansgif (Afrikaans); inHlungunyembe (Zulu); iNtlungunyembe (Xhosa) Family: Apocynaceae The Bushman's poison is a medium to large woody shrub with attractive hard dark green leaves. Clusters of pinkish white, sweetly scented flowers are borne in late winter and spring and are followed by large plum coloured berry-like fruits which are relished by birds. The name Acokanthera is derived from the Greek and refers to the sharp anthers of the flowers. The species name refers to the opposite arrangement of the leaves. Usually found growing in the shade of other vegetation on forest margins woodland and bush clumps, this species is widespread over many parts of the country with the exception of the drier parts. The milky sap of this plant was widely used by the traditional bushmen (Khoisan) to form part of the cocktail used to poison the tips of their notoriously toxic arrows in hunting. All parts of the plant are highly poisonous with the possible exception of the ripe fruits. This plant is used medicinally to treat snake & spider bites, intestinal worms and also for aches and colds. Growing Acokanthera oppositifolia The Bushman's poison is a hardy drought and frost resistant evergreen shrub that tolerates full sun or shade and also does well as a container plant. Propagation of this species is from seed or semi-hardwood cuttings in the months of September to October. This shrub is one of three South African members of the genus, Acokanthera. It belongs to the same family as many popular sub tropical ornamental plants such as frangipani, allamanda and oleander as well as the impala lily and num num. This family is characterized by having sweetly scented flowers and sticky milky sap which is often poisonous. Andrew Hankey; Witwatersrand NBG

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Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus family) Common name: Asparagus fern, emerald fern, basket asparagus Asparagus densiflorus is an extremely versatile perennial, evergreen plant that can be used as a groundcover or container plant in full sun or light shade. Although there are many striking and beautiful South African Asparagus species, most of them have horrendously large or sharp spines. A. densiflorus has only very small, hardly noticeable spines and is an excellent garden plant. DescriptionAsparagus densiflorus is a scrambling, slightly woody plant with upright or trailing branches up to 1 m long. The appearance of the plants varies enormously and has led to the naming of a large number of cultivars or forms. The best known forms belong to the so-called emerald ferns of the Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' group. These plants form large cushions with long, arching stems more or less densely covered with dark green, needle-like leaves. The plants of this group can be used as groundcovers in shade as well as in full sun, or in large containers or hanging baskets. The cultivars 'Cwebe' and 'Meyersii' form more upright plants, particularly 'Meyersii', which looks very different, with its compact cat's tail-like fronds. Asparagus densiflorus flowers are small, most often white or pale pink and are very sweetly scented. The flowers are not very noticeable, as they are half hidden by the foliage and do not last long. They flower for about two weeks during the summer season, in South Africa as well as in the Northern Hemisphere. The flowering of the plants can be rather erratic, with the plants having a good flowering year on average only once every three years. The small flowers are followed by showy bright red berries, which each have one large black seed in them. The berries are attractive to birds and may be spread by them. DistributionAsparagus densiflorus grows in the coastal areas in the southeastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in a wide range of habitats, from coastal dunes to open rocky places or woods. It can be grown in USDA zones 9-10 and is hardy to -7°C (20 oF). Name and historyThe genus name of Asparagus is thought to be derived from the Greek Asparagos for the cultivated asparagus and is possibly derived from 'a-'- intensive and sparassa - to tear, referring to the sharp spines of many species. The species name of densiflorus refers to the way the small flowers are densely packed along the stem of the plant. The earliest record of a South African asparagus is an illustration from 1686, while plants from the 'Sprengeri' group were introduced into cultivation as early as 1888. They are now grown all over the world and have proved hardy, drought tolerant and even fairly salt tolerant plants which can be used as garden plants or for cut foliage. The South African Asparagus species are related to the European Asparagus species and have a botanically very interesting structure. The so-called leaves are not true leaves at all, but are actually cladodes and are thought to be modified branches, while the spines are formed from modified branches or from modified leaves. There are about 69 species in southern Africa, possibly 30 to 40 in tropical Africa and also some in Asia. They are widespread and common but are not often collected because of the short flowering period and the presence of the spines. UsesOne other South African species that is widely cultivated is Asparagus plumosus, which has flat, feathery short stems and used to be found in almost every bunch of cut flowers as foliage. Some of the South African Asparagus species are used as vegetables or for medicinal purposes. The berries cause only low toxicity if eaten. When the berries are crushed, skin irritation is minor, or lasting only for a few minutes. Growing Asparagus densiflorus Asparagus densiflorus grows in most soils and is fairly drought tolerant, but does much better in soil which is rich in organic matter and is watered regularly. To rejuvenate the plants, they can be cut back after flowering. At this time a thick mulch of compost can be spread around the plants. Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri', 'Flagstaff' and 'Mazeppa' are excellent as a groundcover, especially in full sun. 'Sprengeri and 'Flagstaff' form long, arching branches of up to 1 m in length and can reach a height of 60 cm, while 'Mazeppa' forms a very compact dark green mat and looks very attractive in containers as well as on sloping garden walls. When these three cultivars are grown in shade they become long-stemmed with a wide distribution of the leaves. When grown in full sun, the plants become much more sturdy and dense. Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' is known under a variety of names, i.e. 'Myers', Asparagus meyers, Asparagus meyeri, with the common names of cat's tail asparagus or foxtail fern. It grows to a height of 60 cm with long, soft branches arising from a central point to form a very ornamental plant, looking equally good in a container, as a feature plant or in a mass planting. It looks best when grown in shade or semi-shade. Asparagus densiflorus 'Cwebe' is a more upright version of 'Sprengeri' with very graceful, upright, arching fronds with long needle-like leaves. The young fronds are a very attractive copper colour. This is the only cultivar that does not like sun and should be grown in light shade. The plants have extensive root systems with fairly large tubers, which are used in nature to provide food during long periods of drought in summer. They can be readily propagated by separating the tubers in fairly large clumps, or by sowing the seed in spring or early summer. The seed should be removed from the fleshy berries, placed in a suitable sowing medium in a warm spot or with bottom heating of about 25°C and kept moist. H.G. Jamieson; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

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Mengenal: ADENIUM MULTIFLORUM

Famili: Apocynaceae Nama Umum: impala lily (Ing.); impalalelie (Afr.). Adenium multiflorum adalah jenis adenium yang dikenal luas di Afrika Selatan. Ia berbunga di musim dingin, di saat hampir semua vegetasi cenderung ‘merehatkan diri’, A. Multiflorum justru tampil brilian dengan warna-warna putih, pink, crimson, merah, dan dwiwarna yang memenuhi seluruh tajuknya saat sedang bermekaran. Genus Adenium terdiri dari lima spesies sukulen dari daerah tropis Afrika, Arabia, dan Socotra. Formasinya yang menakjubkan sekaligus bunga indahnya yang kompak dan serempak serta mampu bertahan lama membuat genus ini dikenal sebagai tanaman hias. DeskripsiAdenium multiflorum berprofil semak atau pohon kecil setinggi 0.5-3m, bentuknya seperti miniatur baobab. Percabangan rimbun mencuat sejak dari bonggol yang berukuran besar dan tersembunyi di bawah tanah. Warna batang utama dan percabangannya kelabu terang hingga coklat, dengan getah lengket dan mengandung zat racun. Sepanjang tahun tanaman ini tidak banyak berbunga ataupun berdaun lebat. Panjang daun mencapai 100 mm, hijau cerah di bagian atas dan memudar di bagian bawah, biasanya ke arah ujung daun lebih melebar, dan berkelompok di ujung tunas-tunas pada percabangannya. Daun akan rontok pada saat akan berbunga.Bunga tumbuh dan mekar dalam kelompok-kelompok dompolan, tiap bunga berdiameter 50-70mm. Warnanya amat cantik, biasanya berpetal lancip warna putih dan tepi merah bergelombang, serta pola garis merah pada leher terompet. Kadang dijumpai bunga adenium multiflorum berwarna putih polos. Bunganya mengeluarkan aroma halus. Musim bunga berkisar pada bulan Mei hingga September. Buah normal berupa sepasang tanduk sepanjang kurang lebih 240 mm. Biji berwarna coklat dengan bulu halus di kedua ujung biji.Dalam daftar yang disebut Red Data di Swaziland, Zambia, dan Zimbabwe, Adenium (impala lily) dinyatakan sebagai keragaman hayati yang dilindungi. Penyebarannya sebagian besar terjadi pada musim gugur di Afrika Selatan di kawasan Taman Nasional Kruger. Perlindungan diberikan kepada adenium multiflorum karena pemanfaatannya sebagai tanaman koleksi, bahan obat-obatan, pembudidayaan, dan menjadi pakan hewan liar seperti misalnya baboon yang menyukai bagian akar. Distributsi dan HabitatDistribusi alami Adenium multiflorum meliputi Zambia tenggara, berlanjut ke Malawi, Zimbabwe dan Mozambique, Limpopo, Mpumalanga dan ke utara di KwaZulu-Natal di Afrika Selatan, serta Swaziland. Habitatnya meliputi wilayah tanah berpasir atau kawasan alluvium berbatu cadas, padang tandus terbuka ataupun padang rumput. Dijumpai terutama di dataran rendah dengan sedikit hujan dan di bagian timur Afrika Selatan, di selatan Sungai Zambezi, dengan ketinggian 1-200 m dpl. Adenium multiflorum tumbuh hanya di wilayah tandus Afrika Selatan, dengan penyebaran luas di Afrika bagian tengah dan Timur

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