Plant Families of the Karoo

compiled by Evan Davies

I show only family names in the order that my clever books give them (KAROO - South African Wild Flower Guide 6 by David Shearing 1994; and Trees of Southern Africa by Keith Coates Palgrave, Struik 1988).

Please note that in the list below Fynbos species are not mentioned, since here they are marginal.

It should also be pointed out that a full folk knowledge of most of this vegetation died with the extinction of the aboriginal Khoikhoi and San peoples, who used many species medicinally and for hallucinagenic purposes. Almost all knowledge is scientific and recent, although much is today being rediscovered in other disciplines.

I also know of several plants not included in this list, so as a Klein Karoo specific list, it is incomplete.

ADIANTACEAE ferns

TYPHACEAE bulrush

POACEAE common reed

CYPERACEAE sedges

JUNCACEAE rushes

ASPARAGACEAE desert asparaguses

COLCHICACEAE poison onion

ASPHODELACEAE bulbines, aloes

HYACINTHACEAE succulent hyacinths

AMARYLLIDACEAE desert amaryllises

IRIDACEAE tulips (by the way the Dutch tulips are of SA descent)

LORANTHACEAE parasitic mistletoes

VISCACEAE parasitic mistletoes

SANTALACEAE semiparasitic mistletoes, root parasites

CHENOPODIACEAE salt bushes

AMARANTHACEAE dwarf shrubs

AIZOACEAE succulent herbs

MESEMBRYANTHEMACEAE succulent ground creepers

PORTULACACEAE miniature succulents

CARYOPHYLLACEAE shrubs

ILLECEBRACEAE shrubs

RANUNCULACEAE clematis types

MENISPERMACEAE shrubby climbers

BRASSICACEAE

CRASSULACEAE succulent crassulas

FABACEAE acacias and leguminous shrubs

GERANIACEAE geraniums including some very hardy species

OXALIDACEAE oxalis varieties

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE succulent shrubs

POLYGALACEAE dwarf shrubs

EUPHORBIACEAE shrub euphorbias

ANACARDIACEAE evergreen shrubs and trees

CELASTRACEAE thorny shrubs

MELIANTHACEAE

TILIACEAE

MALVACEAE hibiscuses

STERCULIACEAE shrubs

TAMARICACEAE tamarisk

THYMELAEACEAE shrubs

ARALIACEAE starchy tree

APIACEAE herby trees and shrubs

EBENACEAEevergreen shrubs and trees including Ghwarrie.

OLEACEAE wild olives

LOGANIACEAE scented shrubs

APOCYNACEAE thorny evergreen shrubs

ASCLEPIADACEAE thorny, succulent shrubs

CONVOLVULACEAE dodders

BORAGINACEAE herby shrubs and trees

VERBENACEAE dwarf shrubs

LAMIACEAE many stemmed herbs

SOLANACEAE large thorny shrubs

SCROPHULARIACEAE colourful flowering shrubs

BIGNONIACEAE colourful woody shrubs

ACANTHACEAE spiny shrubs

RUBIACEAE small edible shrubs

CUCURBITACEAE wild desert melons

CAMPANULACEAE

ASTERACEAE daisies and gazanias (very extensive list)

SCOTIACEAE acacia-like trees (boerboon)

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