Glossary: s
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Salvia africana
Posted on This species has for many years been known as Salvia africana-caerulea, however, according to the rules of botanical nomenclature, hyphenated names are illegitimate. This soft, grey-hairy shrub found naturally on the sandy flats in the south western Cape and is very... Read more » -
Salvia aurea
Posted on This species was previously known as Salvia africana-lutea, however, according to the rules of botanical nomenclature, hyphenated names should not be used. This grey-hairy shrub is very well known for its aromatic leaves and can be found all over Steenbok. The... Read more » -
Salvia chamelaeagnea
Posted on This evergreen, grey hairy shrub is very distinctive by its tetragonal (square-shaped), upright stems. The leaves are dotted with glands which emit a very strong scent when touched, leaving a sticky, bitter-tasting residue on fingers. The whorls of flowers are... Read more » -
Samolous porosus
Posted on A herb up to 45 cm tall with slender branched stems and narrow leaves which are larger at the base of the plant. Small 5-petalled flowers are borne towards the end of the stems. Read more » -
Sarcocornia natalensis
Posted on Sprawling, jointed, fleshy perennial forming mats. Leaves not apparent, but are fleshy and united around the stem, giving the latter a fleshy appearance – segments barrel-shaped, green turning to various shades of red/brown. Flowers minute, three to five in clusters. Read more » -
Sarcocornia perennis
Posted on Sprawling, jointed, fleshy perennial forming mats. Leaves not apparent, but are fleshy and united around the stem, giving the latter a fleshy appearance – segments barrel-shaped, green turning to various shades of red/brown. Flowers minute, three to five in clusters. Read more » -
Satyrium membranaceum
Posted on This stout, tuberous geophyte (i.e. a plant that has its storage organs underground) is a rare sighting in Steenbok. This orchid is mainly found North of the tennis courts from October until December. The large flat leaves lay on the... Read more » -
Satyrium princeps
Posted on The rootstock of this deciduous, winter-growing geophyte is a root-stem tuberoid: a storage organ which consists of both root and stem tissue. Two broad oval leaves lie flat on the ground while the tall erect raceme shows off the flowers.... Read more » -
Scabiosa columbaria
Posted on This hardy, evergreen herbaceous perennial has attractive, deeply lobed, grey green foliage. The soft basal leaves ca have serrated or toothed margins are clump-forming. The showy inflorescences are carried on slender erect stems all year round. Butterflies, bees and insects... Read more » -
Scadoxus membranaceus
Posted on This evergreen, compact plant grows from a bulb where 3 to 4, thin layers of leaves will appear. These leaves come directly from the rhizomatous rootstock rather than from an exposed stem. The four sheathing bracts enclosing the flower open... Read more » -
Scadoxus puniceus
Posted on This is one of South Africa’s most striking bulbous plants with a large underground bulb that can reach up to 10cm across. The plants are dormant in winter, using the large bulbs and roots to store moisture during that time.... Read more » -
Schotia latifolia
Posted on Small to medium-sized slender tree with rounded canopy found in coastal scrub. Flower-heads very attractive on branch-tips. Fruit is a flattened oval pod with protruding rim Read more » -
Searsia chirindensis
Posted on This neat ornamental tree (a good example outside the main entrance to the Park) has a dense rounded crown of attractive glossy dark-green foliage that becomes orange in Autumn. Large sprays of minute yellow-green flowers are followed by a profusion... Read more » -
Searsia crenata
Posted on This small tree or shrub is low branching, multi-stemmed and clump forming with a rounded canopy that hugs the ground. It is common and easy to find in coastal thicket and is prevalent in both the Park and the Creek.... Read more » -
Searsia glauca
Posted on An evergreen shrub, well branched with obovate, trifoliate leaflets which have with a resinous coating which dries to a greyish powdery layer. Clusters of round and shiny reddish brown berries appear from August. Plants useful for stabilising dunes. They are... Read more » -
Searsia laevigata
Posted on Much branched, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree occurring in dense stands and on coastal dunes. Leaflets widely obovate, to occasionally lanceolate, finely rolled under. Bark smooth, grey brown, with or without spines. Fruit almost round, russet red. Read more » -
Searsia lucida
Posted on This is a bushy shrub or much branched small tree with erect branches. It occurs in a wide range of areas, from the coastal thicket regions to other habitats, and is common along both the west and south coasts. Many... Read more » -
Selago burchellii
Posted on This densely leafy perennial shrub has pubescent branches (meaning, they are covered in short hairs or soft down). The leaves are light green, narrowly linear with the edges rolled under and are clustered in the stem axils. The flowers are... Read more » -
Selago corymbosa
Posted on Densely leafy shrub with stiff, spreading hairs on branches and tufts of needle-like leaves with white flowers. Read more » -
Senecio angulatus
Posted on Senecio is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines classified within the daisy family. This is a robust scrambling plant covering shrubs and climbing into the tallest trees that can be seen on the... Read more » -
Senecio burchellii
Posted on Senecio is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines classified within the daisy family. This softly wooded glabrous (i.e. smooth) shrublet has narrow leaves with margins rolled under. The leaves are sometimes toothed. It... Read more » -
Senecio coronatus
Posted on Senecio is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines classified within the daisy family. This tufted perennial has a woolly crown. The leaves are mainly found at the base of the plant, they are... Read more » -
Senecio deltoideus
Posted on Senecio is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines classified within the daisy family. This is a soft-leafed climber with zigzag branching. The leaves are toothed and deltoids (simple leaf which is not divided... Read more » -
Senecio ilicifolius
Posted on This plant is endemic to South Africa and is most prevalent growing among the tall grasses throughout the Reserve. It can reach up to 1 meter tall, and is readily identified by its rigid holly-like leaves and bright yellow flowers. ... Read more » -
Senecio pterophorus
Posted on Senecio is a large genus of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines classified within the daisy family. This robust annual or short lived perennial shrub can grow up to 2m. The leaves are oblanceolate (meaning they have... Read more » -
Senecio quinquelobus
Posted on This herbaceous semi-succulent climber with ivy-like leaves uses its long shoots to twine through bushes and trees to reach the sunlight. The flower heads are fairly large and few, appearing in terminal clusters on the lateral branches. Read more » -
Seriphium plumosum
Posted on This shrub might first appear to be sprawling, much-branched, grey and banal but looking closer, you can notice that the slender, wiry branches are softly woody and at right angles to the stem. These short shoots are covered with whitish,... Read more » -
Setaria incrassata
Posted on Usually grows in damp places and is found at the edges of forests. It is a relatively a palatable grass. Read more » -
Sideroxylon inerme
Posted on The white milkwood, a protected tree throughout South Africa, is medium-sized and wide-spreading. It branches low down into several thick, twisted stems. Often the dark green, dense, rounded canopy is so low that it touches the ground. All parts of... Read more » -
Silene undulata
Posted on This erect or sprawling, much branched hairy perennial can be found west of tennis courts and in the grasses along from the boat club entrance towards the Indigenous Gardens. The base of the plant carries opposite spatula-shaped leaves. The flowers... Read more » -
Solanum africanum
Posted on This common semi succulent creeper climbs up into supporting grass or shrubs and sends out long trailing stems along the ground. It becomes covered with panicles of small purple flowers with conspicuous deep yellow stamens which are followed by black... Read more » -
Solanum nigrum
Posted on Not listed in NEMBA legislation, however it is troublesome weed and can smother and out compete other natural vegetation. Native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa. It is also known as black nightshade. Parts of... Read more » -
Spartina maritima
Posted on Not listed in NEMBA legislation, however it is troublesome and can smother other natural vegetation. A robust grass with erect shoots. The flower panicles stand stiffly erect above the leaves which are broad, smooth and firm. The plants are very... Read more » -
Spathodea campanulata
Posted on This handsome tree, imported into South Africa, occurs naturally in tropical Africa. It has a rounded, open crown and dark green foliage. It produces large, brilliant, flame-scarlet, cup-shaped flowers and is widely planted in tropical and sub-tropical regions. There is... Read more » -
Spergula arvensis
Posted on Not listed in NEMBA legislation, however it is troublesome and can smother other natural vegetation. A cosmopolitan weed introduced to southern Africa. Read more » -
Spiloxene trifurcillata
Posted on This small, delicate cormous geophyte (which is a plant with underground food storage) has fine grass-like leaves. The flower stem may branch bearing bright star-like flowers. It is found in moist places such as under shrubs and at forest margins... Read more » -
Sporobolus africanus
Posted on It is a perennial or biennial, tufted wiry grass that is strongly rooted in the soil and has long, thin, cylindrical seed heads. This species flowers throughout the year, however, mostly from October to June. This species is common in disturbed... Read more » -
Sporobolus virginicus
Posted on Creeping stems with erect shoots, forming a wide area of cover. Read more » -
Stachys aethiopica
Posted on This is a vigorous and versatile plant with long straggling stems which uses surrounding vegetation for support. The leaves are glandular, heart-shaped and rough with serrated edges, they are arranged opposite to each other and have an unpleasant smell. The square-shaped... Read more » -
Stenotaphrum secundatum
Posted on Not listed in NEMBA legislation, however it is troublesome and can smother other natural vegetation. Buffalo grass occurs in coastal regions and despite popular belief is not indigenous. It originates in North America, West Indies and Australia. It is a... Read more » -
Strelitzia nicolai
Posted on SA Tree No. 34 This evergreen tree has striking foliage and its multi-stems form dense clumps. The large leaves can reach up to 2m in length but tear easily when exposed to the wind and end up looking like feathers.... Read more » -
Strelitzia reginae
Posted on This tufted, evergreen, acaulescent (i.e. stemless) perennial herb is very well know around the world and is commonly used for cut flowers. The leaf and stalk are smooth and emerge from an underground rhizome. When the plant reaches 4 years old,... Read more »