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DICOTS

Dicots, also known as Dicotyledons, are one of the two groups of all flowering plants. These plants have two embryonic leaves, leaves with typically reticulate venation and floral organs usually arranged in multiples of four or five.

MAGNOLIOPSIDA

latin name

15.000+

species in South Africa

200.000

species worldwide

103

critically endangered

153

endangered

125

vulnerable

113

near threatened

1213

least concern

Dicots are the largest class of flowering plants in South Africa. They are characterized by their two embryonic leaves, which sets them apart from their monocot (one embryonic leaf) counterparts. A large portion of this class is covered by the four orders Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers and allies), Caryophyllales (pinks, cactususe and allies), Fabales (legumes, milkworts and allies) and Lamiales (mints, plantains, olives and allies).

The Cape Floral Kingdom is home to a lot of plant families within the dicot class. Most of this kingdom is associated with the Fynbos biome, which has two key vegetation groups: Fynbos and Renosterveld.

 The Fynbos vegetation is characterized by the presence of a restio, heath and protea species (to put it simply). The protea and heath families are dicots, the restios are monocots. Proteas are the most famous within the Fynbos vegetation. No wonder that the King Protea is South Africa’s national plant. But it is the heath species that are the most numerous.

 The Renosterveld vegetation is characterized by the dominance of the daisy, pea, gardenia, cocoa and thyme family. One species in particular dominates in this vegetation, the grey-colored Renosterbush (Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis). However, members of the Fynbos vegetation tend to occur here in low numbers.

Renosterbush

Another unique biome, with a lot of dicots, is the Succulent Karoo. The two prominent families in this biome are the Stone Plant family and Stonecrop family. The leaves of these plants are (more or less) succulent and most species are well adapted to semi-arid environments. Within the Stone Plant family, there are some unusual looking species that resemble gemstones, rocks or pebbles and are sometimes referred to as 'living stones'.

Hood Silverstone

Scattered throughout the many different families, within the dicot class, are some iconic trees. For example the African Baobab, Marula, Mopane, Sausage Tree, Umbrella Thorn, Stinkwood and Black Ironwood. Among these trees grow some living legends. In the Limpopo province, there is an African Baobab with a girth of over 30m. Some tree species are estimated to be around 1000 years old, some trees can reach up to 40m high and have crown sizes of up to 60m wide.

Other trees in this class are mangroves. They are found in river mouths, estuaries and lagoons along the coastline of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. Most common are the Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina), the Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) and the Indo-West Pacific Stilt Mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata). Although these mangroves begin to appear north of East London, the first well-developed mangrove forest is found in the Mngazana estuary.

Cussonia spicata

Cabbage Tree

Cussonia spicata

Cotula coronopifolia

Brass Buttons

Cotula coronopifolia

Monopsis decipiens

Brother Oneye

Monopsis decipiens

Carpobrotus edulis

Sea fig

Carpobrotus edulis

Lampranthus filicaulis

Threadleaf Brightfig

Lampranthus filicaulis

Diospyros mespiliformis

Jackalberry

Diospyros mespiliformis

Erica blenna

Plain Chinese Lantern Heath

Erica blenna

Erica fastigiata

Four-sisters Heath

Erica fastigiata

Ilex mitis

Cape Holly

Ilex mitis

Helichrysum adenocarpum

Pink Everlasting

Helichrysum adenocarpum

Cleome angustifolia

Yellow Mouse Whiskers

Cleome angustifolia

Conophytum truncatum

Eastern Buttons

Conophytum truncatum

Salicornia meyeriana

Annual Glasswort

Salicornia meyeriana

Erica abietina

Peninsula Heath Complex

Erica abietina

Erica bruniifolia

Blacktip Heath

Erica bruniifolia

Erica hirta

Rough Heath

Erica hirta

Bidens pilosa

Hairy Beggarticks

Bidens pilosa

Osteospermum moniliferum

Bietou

Osteospermum moniliferum

Carpobrotus acinaciformis

Sally-my-handsome

Carpobrotus acinaciformis

Gibbaeum heathii

Babybum Humpfig

Gibbaeum heathii

Drosera natalensis

Natal Sundew

Drosera natalensis

Erica alopecurus

Foxtail Heath

Erica alopecurus

Erica densifolia

Sticky Red-And-Green Heath

Erica densifolia

Erica petraea

Stone Heath

Erica petraea

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