Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa's indigenous plants

Plant hitchhikers spell trouble for ecosystems and roads

Have you looked out the car window and noticed alien invasive plants growing along our roadsides? These invaders spell trouble – not just for indigenous ecosystems, but also for the infrastructure of our roads, explains DR MOLESENG CLAUDE MOSHOBANE.

Pearly Beach: Packing a plant punch

Pearly Beach may be a small seaside village near the southernmost tip of Africa – but from the coastline to the countryside, it is brimming with floral marvels. Not only are many of these plant species incredibly beautiful; many are also very threatened.

BotSoc Limpopo Branch – Plant Walk (Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof)

This weekend, the BotSoc Limpopo Branch embarked on a plant walk near Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof, exploring a beautiful patch of grassland and adjacent forest. The group included enthusiastic nature lovers from the University of Limpopo, BotSoc members and CREW (Custodians for Rare and Endangered Wildflowers).

Rooted in resilience at this year’s 45th Fynbos Forum conference

Rooted in resilience at this year’s 45th Fynbos Forum conference The BotSoc Conservation team recently participated in the 45th Fynbos Forum held in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from 6-8 August 2024. We were joined by conservation managers, land use planners, landowners, conservation practitioners, and researchers under this year’s conference theme - Rooted Resilience: Navigating the Future of Fynbos Conservation.

Tracking flora up a Madagascan massif

This all-in-one panorama of a section of the Ankaratra massif and its challenges, from about 2 200 metres, looks towards a small peak at 2 406 metres, with Tsiafajavona (2 463 metres) in the distance on the left.

Must the Clanwilliam cedar get a new name?

Follow the twists and turns of a botanical detective story after local botanists were shocked by the Clanwilliam cedar losing its proudly SA botanical name more than a decade ago.

Meet Mpondoland’s new BioBlitz All-Stars

The Great Southern BioBlitz was a wonderful opportunity for the passionate young Mpondoland team to come from nowhere.

My journey with healing plants

Cape Town-based Jean-Francois Sobiecki strives to bring African herbal medicine the global recognition of techniques such as traditional Chinese medicine and Amazonian shamanism

Euphorbias in the spotlight

Southern Africa’s euphorbias are hot again botanically for the first time in nearly a century. In his new book on the southern African species, PETER BRUYNS explains why they are interesting and where you can look out for them.

Getting to know the secretive Nama-Karoo Biome

The Nama-Karoo Biome has managed to keep many of its secrets. Because it is one of the least species-rich of all the biomes, it has been largely overlooked.

What you must know about BotSoc membership changes

Following amendments to the BotSoc/SANBI collaboration agreement, there are some important membership changes to take note of.

2022’s plant discoveries that had the botanists celebrating

When new species come to light, there real reason for celebration. In 2022, there was more than one discovery of a species

Webinar: People, plants and heritage

How does heritage underpin the work we do? How can we ensure our multigenerational bond with plants isn’t lost?

BotSoc Webinar: Pollination

We’re taking a moment to look at the connection between plants and pollinators during this plant conservation webinar.

Through thicket and thin: Protecting this incredible biome

Thicket comprises evergreen and deciduous trees, a rich succulent diversity from towering Euphorbias to creeping vygies, shrubs, vines, bulbs and grasses.

BotSoc Webinar: Plant and biome-awareness disparity

As a plant lover, you appreciate our indigenous plant life. But many people simply don’t notice plants.

Get involved in plant conservation forums in 2022

South Africa’s biodiversity space 2022: Attend one of the biome and ecosystem-focused plant conservation forums that take place annually across South Africa.

Defining the Free State’s Bloemfontein karroid shrubland

Masters student Ricus Nel is growing our knowledge about this unique and biodiverse vegetation through his Master’s research funded by the Botanical Society

SA BIODIVERSITY UPDATE: Know your enemy

If we don’t stop biological invasions of South Africa, we lose our biodiversity

10 golden rules of ecological restoration

Everything starts with Rule 1 of ecological restoration (borrowed from the medical fraternity): First, do no harm.

Almost a third of the world’s trees are threatened

One in three trees could become extinct, according to the new ‘State of the World’s Trees’ report just released by the conservation nonprofit Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

Webinar: Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa book launch

The launch of 'Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa' the first of its kind to offer a complete photographic record of the 166 species that occur in the country!

How your photos could help save an ecosystem

Projects like VEGMAPhoto on iNaturalist depend on landscape photographs of vegetation shared by any citizen scientist, such as yourself.

A Journey Through South Africa’s Ecosystems

From snow-capped mountain peaks to red desert sands, South Africa’s ecosystems are some of the world’s most biodiverse environments

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Our BotSoc branches are as busy as ever this March

The attractive pink and white flowerheads of the S

Climate-smart gardening in autumn - our plant cons

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