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CONVOLVULACEAE
Morning glory family
Cuttings of the creeping species of this family root relatively
easily in sand. Layering into the soil around the
plants also works, as long as the surrounding soil is kept
moist. The time when rooting takes place varies, but it
should be possible to move plants within about 3 months.
Peg the node to the soil to enable rooting, which takes
about 2 weeks. Nick some of the thick stems just below
the node and they will sprout roots.
The desert-dwelling species of Convolulaceae rest and
are propagated during the following year. In my experience,
seed sown at the beginning of the next growing
season does better. Store seed in a cool, dry place.
CORNACEAE
Dogwood family
Although Curtisia dentata is not on the threatened plant
list, whenever I have come across it, it has been peeled of
its bark. Seed is the best way to grow this plant. This tree
seeds well when it flowers. However, much like the Black
Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata), seed is parasitised in its
natural habitat, usually by the larvae of a small beetle.
Remove the surrounding flesh before sowing the seed.
Seed germinates well in normal seedling mix with heated
soil. Grow the seed in a sheltered, sunny place to achieve
the best results.
COSTACEAE
This family is close to the Ginger family and propagating
Costus afer should be similar to the way all the cultivated
Costus species are propagated. Division, which involves
splitting off pieces of the rhizome from the parent plant, is
one method of propagation that could be followed.
CRASSULACEAE
Crassula or Stonecrop family
Leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, and seed are the best
methods of propagation for this family of plants. The seed
is very fine and dust-like. Treat it like all fine seeds.
When in the field on a collecting trip, be meticulous
to observe the habitat in which you are collecting.
At microhabitat level, establish whether the
plants grow in deep shade, or are exposed to
full sun, whether they grow in welldrained
soil or not, and whether they
grow in leaf litter or between rocks.
Take rocks and stones from the
original habitat, as well as some soil
to inoculate the growing medium
the minerals leach out into the
potting soil.
CUCURBITACEAE
Cucumber family
Seed is the best method of propagation
and should be dried out and planted at the
beginning of the next growing season. Some of
the species that have huge water-storing stems,
such as Kedrostis and Gerrardanthus, grow from a
! Curtisia dentata fruit.
" Female flower of Gerrardanthus tomentosus.
divided tuber as long as the growing point is split carefully
using a sharp knife.
Generally, cucumbers are creepers and need to be
grown on a trellis to allow the stem to clamber over the
support. Some species, such as Zehneria, are annuals and
need to be grown from seed each season.
CONVOLVULACEAE
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In Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa an interesting
association exists between a cucumber and the
aardvark. This animal eats the fruits of the aardvark
cucumber (Cucumis humifructus), which are formed
underground. The aardvark digs up the fruits, eats their
watery contents, and then excretes the seeds in its
droppings, which it buries in the sandy soil. Here the
seeds germinate during the following rainy season
(Hollmann et al., 1995).
INTERESTING FACT
This plant is one of the few plants in the world whose fruits bury
themselves (geocarpic or geocarpy) in the soil after flowering. The
peanut is another plant that does this (Stent, 1927; Meeuse, 1955).
CUPRESSACEAE
Cypress family
In southern Africa, this group of plants consists of the
genera Widdringtonia and Juniperus. I have no experience
with Juniperus. Burrows (1995) comments that
Juniperus grows easily from seed if collected and sown
when the seasonal rains begin.
Sow Widdringtonia seeds on a seedling mix and cover
them so that they are held in place. Heat the soil to
achieve a greater germination percentage. Seedlings grow
best in relatively nutrient-poor, sandy soil. Expose the
young plants to full sun to toughen them up before they
are planted out in the wild. Feed the plants every two
weeks during the growing season with a liquid fertiliser.
Juniperus seed is a little trickier because of its succulent,
berry-like structure.
Once the seeds are removed from the cone, the European
junipers need a period of stratification or cooling in a
fridge at 24C for about 18 months. The false berry or
cone of our Juniper, known as the African Pencil Cedar,
has a number of seeds within the swollen scales that give
this cone its berry-like appearance. I am not sure if our
African species needs the same period of stratification, but
it would be useful to store the seeds. I would even sow
some fresh and see what happens.
L. Negash, a researcher in Ethiopia, has successfully
! An aardvark and Cucumis humifructus. (Photo: Jeremy Hollmann.)
! Unripe seed capsule of Widdringtonia nodiflora.
propagated Juniperus procera from cuttings. He used IBA
rooting hormone at 0.4% concentration in cold frames and
the cuttings rooted in about 48 weeks. He found that
soft-tip cuttings of older plants (about 15 months) rooted
more vigorously than younger plants of 5 months old
(Negash, 2002). Though this method will bulk up stock, it
may not give you a good genetic diversity if you are
limited to the number of plants that you are able to
harvest from.
INTERESTING FACT
Gin is an alcoholic beverage obtained from the female cones or false
berry of the Juniper, J. communis.
CYPERACEAE
Sedge family
As the sedges mostly grow in water, maintenance is
simple, given wet, boggy soils and enough sun. Grow these
plants in a large, shallow (a maximum of 100 mm deep)
trough, filled with river sand only (no soil or clay). Make
sure that they receive enough water. Important factors for
growing most sedges are enough sunlight and damp
conditions. Observe where they grow best in the wild and
use that as an indication of their needs. Under the correct
conditions, sedges thrive.
Roddy Ward grows all his specimens in individual
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plastic washbasins. These are ideal for moving the plants
around and limiting them to their own space. The suckers
that are produced can be split off to make new plants. If
the trough is not partitioned, take care that the plants do
not grow into each other using their suckers. Seed should
be harvested when ripe. To ease the process of finding ripe
seed at the right time, a parent plant can be collected and
planted in the nursery with its seed intact. The seed will
mature and sow itself under the parent plant. Some
sedges, such as the Cyperus prolifer, produce plantlets on
a seed head.
The identification of sedges can prove confusing. To get
to know this family you need all the help you can get.
Make proper specimens of the whole plant to ease the task
of the taxonomist in identifying it. It is quite possible that
the plant may have more than one name. Do not despair
the doubt is part of a very exciting process.
DICHAPETALACEAE
I have only a little experience in propagating members of
this family. From twhat has been written on the subject, it
seems propagation from seed is the best method. The
common Dichapetalum cymosum, which occurs inland in
the sandy grasslands and woodlands of South Africa, is
toxic to livestock. I assume that this is also the case with
the other species in southern Africa. Prof. Christo Botha
has kindly lent me a picture of the fruits of D. cymosum,
which is a clear indication that this genus is probably best
grown from freshly collected and cleaned seed.
I suspect that the seeds need ample sunlight and
moisture for good germination. The seeds are exposed
when the fleshy outer covering of the fruit is removed.
Since many species seem to be lianas, I would also
attempt propagation from cuttings in the new growing
season. Local knowledge of plants and close, constant
observation will bear fruit.
DIOSCOREACEAE
Yam family
This family of plants is easy to grow and maintain in
cultivation. The four most commonly traded medicinal
species in KwaZulu-NatalDioscorea dregeana, D.
cotinifolia, D. rupicola, and D. sylvaticagrow easily from
seed that is collected from splitting seed capsules.
Rub the seeds together to break up the papery wing
attached to each seed. Sow the seed on a normal seedling
mix. It germinates within about ten days. Grow the plants
on in a well-drained, humus-rich soil. All these plants are
creepers and need enough room to grow and a mini-trellis
to clamber over. Without support, the creeping stems
intertwine, making it very difficult to separate the plants
to re-pot them or plant them back into the wild. Since
Dioscorea develops an underground caudex, allow the
plant to rest during its dormant season. General use of
plant nutrients allows these plants to grow very rapidly.
Finally, Dioscorea, which is dioecious, should be planted
in groups of a minimum of five to ensure at least one
female plant (Hurter, 2002 & 2003).
! top left Dichapetalum cymosum fruit. (Photo: Christo Botha); bottom left A 4-year-old Dioscorea sylvatica plant in cultivation in Durban. Note the
tortoise shell-like appearance of the caudex, hence the Zulu name of ufudutortoise; right Seed capsules of Dioscorea sylvatica showing the threechambered
capsule.
DICHAPETALACEAE
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EBENACEAE
Ebony family
The two genera that are mentioned in the lists are
Diospyros and Euclea. As hardwoods and slow growers,
both are difficult to root from tips or semi-hardwood
cuttings. Propagation from seed is the most successful
method.
Fresh seed is best. If it is necessary to use stored seed, I
suggest nicking the end of the testa to allow water into the
seed before sowing it on seedling mix. This family is
dioecious, and at least five specimens of each species
should be planted to be sure of a female plant.
The seed of Diospyros whyteana seems to be difficult to
germinate. I have observed other growers using diluted
hydrogen peroxide and even sulphuric acid in the hope
that with this treatment it will be possible for water to
enter the seed. I dont know whether these methods have
proven successful or not.
WARNING
The Diospyros villosa seed capsule has fine hairs on the outside
that can cause intense irritation if they get into the soft skin on ones
hands and between fingers. Use leather gloves to split these capsules
and a pair of pliers to prise the segments apart.
I have been able to germinate Diospyros inhacaensis,
D. dicrophylla, D. simii, and D. natalensis successfully,
provided they were sown fresh.
The dune-dwelling Diospyros rotundifolia germinates
from seed, but has to be grown in the dunes to survive.
Seedlings do not like living in packets or containers, nor in
normal soil.
Euclea has a fleshy fruit, containing a hard testa that
protects the seed. Collect seed that is produced in profusion
by female plants in a population. Also, collect seed
from as many individuals as possible. Female trees will
not produce seed every year, making it important to
collect seed whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Clean off the flesh and crack the seed coat to ensure that
water can reach the cotyledons. Euclea seed germinates
! Diospyros natalensis seedling showing narrow Ebenaceae cotyledon.
! top Diospyros villosa fruit showing hairs; bottom Euclea racemosa
seedlings. Note the narrow cotyledon.
within about 3 weeks, but the plants do not like living in
captivity. Plant them out.
Exercise some patience when dealing with these plants!
ERICACEAE
Heath family
This group of plants can be propagated from both seed
and cuttings, and smoke treatment improves germination
rates.
See more in Chapter 2 under Smoke treatment and Chapter 5 under
Fynbos plants.
ERIOSPERMACEAE
The genus Eriospermum is well known for its significance
in traditional medicine. All the species I know have an
underground tuber, which may be branched or
unbranched. The tubers are used for medicine. I have
been able to propagate these plants by division, splitting
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off pieces of the tuber just before spring while the plant is
still resting. Flowers appear first, followed by leaves just
as the seed is ripening. The seeds are covered in fine hairs
that aid dispersal.
Seed germinates well if sown fresh. Sow in a tray and
cover lightly with sand to hold the seed in place. Germination
takes 714 days to germinate, depending on soil
temperature.
These plants like to be root-bound in small, shallow
containers. The best results are obtained when planted in
! Eriospermum seed head showing the hairy seeds.
150 mm diameter plastic sleeves, folded down to provide a
soil depth of about 100 mm. The tubers fill the sleeve and
after a season or two start pushing bulges out of the black
plastic sleeve.
TIP
When a plant starts to bulge or push out a sleeve it is time to plant it
out.
EUPHORBIACEAE
Spurge family
The succulent species of Euphorbia and Jatropha, as well
as Synadenium cupulare and Monadenium lugardiae, are
relatively easy to grow if they are kept within their
habitat preference.
Seed is the best way of propagation. The general
principles regarding seed propagation apply. Euphorbias
generally have hard capsules, within which, once mature
and dried out, a tension is created causing an explosion
that scatters the seeds away from the parent plant.
Collecting Euphorbia seed is best done by picking the ripe
fruit. This process can be tricky, given the sharp spines
and corrosive latex that can cause severe irritation, should
it encounter ones eyes.
WARNING
Wear protective goggles and leather gloves while collecting
Euphorbiaceae seed.
" A colony of Monadenium lugardiae growing in the Skukuza Nursery in the Kruger National Park. (Photo: Llewellyn Foxcroft.)
EUPHORBIACEAE
96
Once the capsules have been collected, place them in a
paper or cloth bag. Leave the bag in a dry, warm place to
dry out. The bags will seem to come alive when the seeds
are ripe and start exploding! When all the seeds have
been set free, file the seed coat a little and sow it in a tray
of seedling medium. Seeds should germinate after about
14 days, if the weather is warm.
These plants are also propagated from cuttings and by
division. Ive had greater success with large cuttings or
truncheons with a diameter of more than 40 mm. It is best
to allow the cut stem to dry out for a week or so before
placing it into the rooting medium, which should consist of
sharp river sand. Euphorbia truncheons do better in the
spring and summer when the plants are actively growing.
Keep the cuttings in a well-lit and well-ventilated environment.
Be careful not to overwater the cuttings, as the
stems will rot quickly if they remain damp.
WARNING
Do not rub your eyes after handling any Euphorbiaceae if you havent
washed your hands. The milky sap or latex of these species is highly
corrosive.
If the seed from the trees of this family is sown fresh, it
should germinate easily. Trees include Cleistanthus,
Bridelia, Sapium, Cavacoa, Croton, and Margaritaria. Old
seed is much more difficult to germinate.
! top Monadenium lugardiae flowering shoot; bottom left Euphorbia bupleurifolia female; bottom right Cavacoa aurea seed.