VISIT the NATURAL WORLD
VISIT the NATURAL WORLD
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MONOCOTS
Monocots, also known as Monocotyledons, are one of the two groups of flowering plants. These plants have one embryonic leaf, usually parallel-veined leaves and floral organs arranged in multiples of three.
LILIOPSIDA
latin name
5.200+
species in South Africa
70.000
species worldwide
6
critically endangered
13
endangered
29
vulnerable
9
near threatened
398
least concern
Monocots are a large class of flowering plants, characterized by their single embryonic leaf, which sets them apart from their dicot (two embryonic leaves) counterparts. A very large portion of this class is covered by the two orders Poales (grasses, sedges, cattails and allies) and Asparagales (agaves, orchids, irises and allies).
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One of the defining plant families of Fynbos is the Restios (Restionaceae). They have green photosynthetic stems, leaves that have been reduced to sheaths and very small flowers. By far, the vast majority of these species can be found in the Cape Floral Kingdom.
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With a plethora of herbivores and big grazers in the country, there needs to be a lot of food for them to graze on. One of those food sources is grass and South Africa has a lot of them, space and species-wise. A large part of the country is covered by the Grassland and Savanna biomes in which grass is found or is even the dominant vegetation. Although there is only one family that can call itself grass (Poaceae), commonly speaking the families of rushes and sedges are also referred to as grass. When combining these families, South Africa has some 800 different (observed) species.
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Some noteworthy species within this class are the Candelabra Aloe, Quiver Tree, Poison-Bulb, Candelabra Lily, Granny Kappie, Flame Lily and the Strelitzias.
![Zantedeschia aethiopica](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/249882913/medium.jpeg)
Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
![Phoenix reclinata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/12342659/medium.jpg)
Reclining Date Palm
Phoenix reclinata
![Amaryllis belladonna](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/87041764/medium.jpg)
Belladonna Lily
Amaryllis belladonna
![Brunsvigia radulosa](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/60640225/medium.jpeg)
Eastern Candelabra
Brunsvigia radulosa
![Albuca concordiana](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/94794298/medium.jpeg)
Whirlwind Tamarak
Albuca concordiana
![Ledebouria mokobulanensis](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/101612156/medium.jpg)
Mokobulan African Hyacinth
Ledebouria mokobulanensis
![Aloe ferox](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/246971347/medium.jpeg)
Cape Aloe
Aloe ferox
![Astroloba corrugata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/154137607/medium.jpg)
Bumpy Astroloba
Astroloba corrugata
![Triglochin striata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/230107862/medium.jpeg)
Three-ribbed Arrowgrass
Triglochin striata
![Agapanthus campanulatus](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/239042945/medium.jpeg)
Bell Agapanthus
Agapanthus campanulatus
![Boophone disticha](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/50528991/medium.jpeg)
Poison-bulb
Boophone disticha
![Brunsvigia striata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/184158500/medium.jpeg)
Stripe Candelabra
Brunsvigia striata
![Eucomis montana](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/112454903/medium.jpg)
Montane Pineapple Lily
Eucomis montana
![Merwilla plumbea](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/327919894/medium.jpg)
Blue Squill
Merwilla plumbea
![Aloe marlothii](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/219203344/medium.jpg)
Mountain Aloe
Aloe marlothii
![Haworthia transiens](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/62163795/medium.jpeg)
Balloon Haworthia
Haworthia transiens
![Jubaeopsis caffra](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/132295166/medium.jpg)
Mkambati Palm
Jubaeopsis caffra
![Agapanthus inapertus](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/58916410/medium.jpeg)
Drooping Agapanthus
Agapanthus inapertus
![Brunsvigia orientalis](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/32466130/medium.jpg)
Candelabra Lily
Brunsvigia orientalis
![Haemanthus coccineus](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/63551368/medium.jpeg)
Spotted Bloodlily
Haemanthus coccineus
![Lachenalia aloides](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/83121557/medium.jpeg)
Cape Cowslip
Lachenalia aloides
![Aloe arborescens](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/221831260/medium.jpeg)
Candelabra Aloe
Aloe arborescens
![Aloe spicata](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/35061401/medium.jpg)
Lebombo Aloe
Aloe spicata
![Haworthiopsis viscosa](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/30617869/medium.jpg)