KNYSNA NEWS - Whilst clearing invasive alien vegetation during the volunteer initiative ‘Weeding Wednesday’ at Pledge Nature Reserve, Nanna Joubert discovered a rare plant which has been on the ‘be-on-the-lookout for’ list of CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers).

The species, SANBI Red Listed as ‘Vulnerable’, is Dioscorea burchellii, a member of the Yam family. 

Better-known relatives are the ‘Elephant’s Foot’ and the yam, a sweet potato-like root vegetable. Its range of occurrence is from Humansdorp to George but has only been recorded at 10 sites. 

The natural habitat of this delicate climber is threatened by development and encroachment by invasive alien vegetation. 

Other rare plants in the reserve are the ‘Near threatened’ Dioscorea mundii and Oxalis pendulifolia.

Dioscorea_mundii.

Dioscorea_burchellii.

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