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Mimusops Afra
''Mimusops afra'' (coastal red milkwood, , , Sepedi: , ) is a species of tree in family Sapotaceae. This tree is found in coastal dune vegetation in Southern Africa from the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal to southern Mozambique. Description ''Mimusops afra'' is a small to medium-sized tree. The stem is up to in diameter, often gnarled or twisted with dark grey bark which is wrinkled longitudinally.Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (2005). These trees may reach Pooley, E. (1993). ''The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei''. in height, but are shorter on the seaward side of the dunesWorld Wildlife Fund Staff. (2008). WWF Full Report: Maputaland coastal forest mosaic (AT0119). where they rarely exceed 5m tall and where the foliage suffers under salt spray and sea winds. It may be dominant in sheltered dune forest behind the littoral zone, where it can reach in height with some protection from the salt wind where forests develop with canopies as tall as . The lea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is a plant conservation biology, conservation Charitable organization, charity based in Kew, Surrey, England. It is a membership organisation, working with 800 botanic gardens in 118 countries, whose combined work forms the world's largest plant conservation network. Founded in 1987, BGCI is a Charitable organization, registered charity in the United Kingdom, and its members include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, as two of its key supporters. The founder and director from 1987 to 1993 was Professor Vernon H Heywood. He was followed in 1994 by Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson (as Secretary-General) who led BGCI till 2005 when Sara Oldfield succeeded him. She was then followed by Paul Smith in 2016 (current acting Secretary-General of BGCI). BGCI's patron is Charles III. Lady Suzanne Warner was Chair of BGCI from December 1999 to December 2004. She received an OBE in the Queen's 2006 New Year's Honours ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Littoral Zone
The littoral zone, also called litoral or nearshore, is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely flood, inundated), to coastal areas that are permanently underwater, submerged — known as the ''foreshore'' — and the terms are often used interchangeably. However, the geographical meaning of ''littoral zone'' extends well beyond the intertidal zone to include all neritic waters within the bounds of continental shelves. Etymology The word ''littoral'' may be used both as a noun and as an adjective. It derives from the Latin language, Latin noun ''litus, litoris'', meaning "shore". (The doubled ''t'' is a late-medieval innovation, and the word is sometimes seen in the more classical-looking spelling ''litoral''.) Description The term has no single definition. What is regarded as the full extent of the littoral zone, and the way the littora ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhoicissus Rhomboidea
''Rhoicissus rhomboidea'', also known as the glossy forest grape, glossy wild grape, ropewood, bastard forest grape and grape ivy, is an evergreen climbing plant in the family Vitaceae that is native to the eastern forests of southern Africa. Taxonomy It was first described in 1859 and was formerly placed within the genus ''Cissus''. Its species name 'rhomboidea' is traced from Latin ''rhombus'', which translates to ‘a four-sided geometrical figure with all sides and opposite angles being equal’, pertaining to its diamond-shaped leaves. Description It is a vigorous, evergreen vine that scrambles or becomes a liana, reaching 3 to 6 m in height (6–20 feet), though it can also grow to small tree or shrub. The dark green, rhombic leaves are trifoliate that comprise three asymmetrical leaflets with short stalks which are coriaceous and satiny with pale russet hairs below and with an irregularly toothed margin. Each tooth is tipped with a roughly 1 mm long point, and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dracaena Aletriformis
''Dracaena aletriformis'' is commonly known as the large-leaved dragon tree. These plants are found in forest in the eastern areas of South Africa from Port Elizabeth to northern and eastern Limpopo. They are also found in Eswatini, but are most common in the coastal and dune forests of KwaZulu-Natal. Taxonomy This plant has 8 synonyms. In the APG III classification system, the genus '' Dracaena'' is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been placed in the Agavaceae (now the subfamily Agavoideae) and the Dracaenaceae. Like many lilioid monocots, it was formerly placed in the family Liliaceae The lily family, Liliaceae, consists of about 15 genera and 610 species of flowering plants within the order Liliales. They are monocotyledonous, perennial, herbaceous, often bulbous geophytes. Plants in this family have evolved with a fai ... (lily family). Description Single stemmed or branched (usually at the base) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blue Duiker
The blue duiker (''Philantomba monticola'') is a small antelope found in central, southern and eastern Africa. It is the smallest species of duiker. The species was first described by Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg in 1789. 12 subspecies are identified. The blue duiker reaches at the shoulder and weighs . Sexually dimorphic, the females are slightly larger than the males. The dark tail measures slightly above . It has short, spiky horns, around long and hidden in hair tufts. The subspecies show a great degree of variation in their colouration. The blue duiker bears a significant resemblance to Maxwell's duiker. Activity is diurnal (limited to daytime). Secretive and cautious, the blue duiker confines itself to the forest fringes. Territorial, individuals of opposite sexes form pairs and occupy territories, nearly large and marked by preorbital gland secretions. The blue duiker feeds on fallen fruits, foliage, flowers and pieces of bark, provided mainly by the for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isoglossa Woodii
''Isoglossa woodii'', commonly known as buckweed, is a monocarpic shrub of the family Acanthaceae, growing up to 4 m tall. It grows in colonies in coastal forest areas of KwaZulu-Natal and marginally into Eastern Cape and Free State of South Africa. Description The stem is often multi branched and sparsely hairy, with lower stems becoming woody. The leaves are between 75 mm and 120 mm long, and are soft and often droop during dry conditions. The leaves have a velvety texture due to fine, dense hairs on the surface. These plants have a life cycle of about 7 to 10 years, after which they flower ''en masse'' and then die off. The flowers are produced in inflorescences and individual flowers are whitish in colour and about 8 mm in length. Ecological significance These plants form dense colonies in the understorey of forests where they provide food and shelter to many animals. Blue duiker and bushbuck feed on the leaves and shoots. The flowers attract many specie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-streaked Bulbul
The yellow-streaked greenbul or yellow-streaked bulbul (''Phyllastrephus flavostriatus'') is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in eastern and south-eastern Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Taxonomy and systematics The yellow-streaked greenbul was originally described in the genus ''Andropadus''. Additionally, some authorities have considered Sharpe's greenbul to also be a subspecies of the yellow-streaked greenbul. Alternate names for the yellow-streaked greenbul include the yellow-streaked bulbul and yellow-bellied greenbul. Subspecies Seven subspecies are recognized: * ''P. f. graueri'' – Neumann, 1908: Originally described as a separate species. Found in the highlands near Lake Albert, Lake Edward and Lake Kivu (eastern and north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo) * Kivu olive greenbul (''P. f. olivaceogriseus'') – Reichenow, 1908: Origina ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-bellied Glossy Starling
The black-bellied starling (''Notopholia corusca'') is a species of starling Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine (perching) birds known for the often dark, glossy iridescent sheen of their plumage; their complex vocalizations including mimicking; and their distinctive, often elaborate swarming behavior, know ... in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Their iris color changes by mood or behavior due to fluctuations in blood flow rates. References External links *Black-bellied (glossy) starling â€Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Sturnidae Birds of East Africa Birds described in 1835 Taxa named by Alexander von Nordmann Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Sturnidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cape Parrot
The Cape parrot (''Poicephalus robustus'') or Levaillant's parrot is a large, temperate forest dwelling parrot of the genus '' Poicephalus'' endemic to South Africa. It was formerly grouped as a subspecies along with the savanna-dwelling brown-necked parrot (''Poicephalus fuscicollis'') and grey-headed parrot (''P. f. suahelicus''), but is now considered a distinct species. Taxonomy The Cape parrot was described in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham under the English name, the "robust parrot". When in 1788 the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin revised and expanded Carl Linnaeus's ''Systema Naturae'', he included the Cape parrot with a short description, coined the binomial name ''Psittacus robustus'' and cited Latham's work. The type locality is South Africa. The Cape parrot is now placed with nine other species in the genus '' Poicephalus'' that was introduced by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1837. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek ''phaio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bushpig
:''"Bush pig" may also refer to the red river hog.'' The bushpig (''Potamochoerus larvatus'') is a member of the pig family that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar. There have also been unverified reports of their presence on the Comoro island of Mayotte. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are several subspecies. The vernacular name 'bushpig' may be used for either '' Potamochoerus'' species. Description Adult bushpigs stand from at the shoulder, and mature boars can reach a weight of , although is more common. Sows are . They resemble the domestic pig, and can be identified by their pointed, tufted ears and face mask. Bushpigs vary in hair colour and skin colour over their range, southern ''koiropotamus'' and ''nyasae'' populations are dark reddish, sometimes almost black. The coat colour darkens with age. Their heads have a 'face mask' with a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vervet Monkey
The vervet monkey (''Chlorocebus pygerythrus''), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus '' Chlorocebus''. The five distinct subspecies can be found mostly throughout Southern Africa, as well as some of the eastern countries. These mostly herbivorous monkeys have black faces and grey body hair color, ranging in body length from about for females, to about for males. In addition to behavioral research on natural populations, vervet monkeys serve as a nonhuman primate model for understanding genetic and social behaviors of humans. They have been noted for having human-like characteristics, such as hypertension, anxiety, and social and dependent alcohol use. Vervets live in social groups ranging from 10 to 70 individuals, with males moving to other groups at the time of sexual maturity. Studies done on vervet monkeys involve their communication and alarm cal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seed
In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds are the product of the ripened ovule, after the embryo sac is fertilization, fertilized by Pollen, sperm from pollen, forming a zygote. The embryo within a seed develops from the zygote and grows within the mother plant to a certain size before growth is halted. The formation of the seed is the defining part of the process of reproduction in seed plants (spermatophytes). Other plants such as ferns, mosses and marchantiophyta, liverworts, do not have seeds and use water-dependent means to propagate themselves. Seed plants now dominate biological Ecological niche, niches on land, from forests to grasslands both in hot and cold climates. In the flowering plants, the ovary ripens into a fruit which contains the seed and serves to disseminate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
