Lists of flowering plants of South Africa explained

The anthophytes are a grouping of plant taxa bearing flower-like reproductive structures. They were formerly thought to be a clade comprising plants bearing flower-like structures. The group contained the angiosperms - the extant flowering plants, such as roses and grasses - as well as the Gnetales and the extinct Bennettitales.

Detailed morphological and molecular studies have shown that the group is not actually monophyletic, with proposed floral homologies of the gnetophytes and the angiosperms having evolved in parallel. This makes it easier to reconcile molecular clock data that suggests that the angiosperms diverged from the gymnosperms around .

Some more recent studies have used the word anthophyte to describe a group which includes the angiosperms and a variety of fossils (glossopterids, Pentoxylon, Bennettitales, and Caytonia), but not the Gnetales.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

Listing

The flowering plant diversity checklists include historical taxa recorded from the region, and the recognised taxa with which they are considered synonymous. Endemic, indigenous, and invasive taxa are labelled.

Acorales

List of Acorales of South Africa – Order: Acorales,

One family is represented:

• Family:Acoraceae, (1 species)
  • Acorus calamus L. not indigenous

Alismatales

List of Alismatales of South Africa – Order: Alismatales.

11 families are represented:

• Alismataceae,
• Aponogetonaceae,
• Araceae,
• Cymodoceaceae,
• Hydrocharitaceae,
• Juncaginaceae,
• Lemnaceae,
• Limnocharitaceae,
• Potamogetonaceae,
• Ruppiaceae,
• Zosteraceae

Apiales

List of Apiales of South Africa – Order: Apiales,

Two families are represented:

• • Apiaceae Pittosporaceae

Aquifoliales

List of Aquifoliales of South Africa – Order: Aquifoliales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Aquifoliaceae,
  • Ilex crocea Thunb. accepted as Elaeodendron croceum (Thunb.) DC.
  • Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. indigenous
  • Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. var. mitis, indigenous

Arecales

List of Arecales of South Africa – Order: Arecales:

One family is represented:

• Family: Arecaceae,
  • Borassus aethiopum Mart. indigenous
  • Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn. indigenous
  • Hyphaene petersiana Klotzsch ex Mart. indigenous
  • Jubaeopsis caffra Becc. endemic
  • Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart. not indigenous, cultivated
  • Phoenix canariensis Chabaud, not indigenous, cultivated, invasive
  • Phoenix reclinata Jacq. indigenous
  • Raphia australis Oberm. & Strey, indigenous
  • Washingtonia filifera (L.Linden) H.Wendl. not indigenous, cultivated
  • Washingtonia robusta H.Wendl. not indigenous, cultivated, invasive

Asparagales

List of Asparagales of South Africa – Order: Asparagales,

14 families are represented:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Agapanthaceae Agavaceae Alliaceae Amaryllidaceae Asparagaceae Asphodelaceae Hemerocallidaceae Hyacinthaceae Hypoxidaceae Iridaceae Lanariaceae Orchidaceae Ruscaceae Tecophilaeaceae

Asterales

List of Asterales of South Africa – Order: Asterales,

Five families are represented:

• Family: Asteraceae,
• Family: Campanulaceae,
• Family: Goodeniaceae,
• Family: Lobeliaceae,
• Family: Menyanthaceae,

Boraginales

List of Boraginales of South Africa – Order: Boraginales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Boraginaceae

Brassicales

List of Brassicales of South Africa – Order: Brassicales,

Six families are represented:

• Family: Brassicaceae,
• Family: Capparaceae,
• Family: Cleomaceae,
• Family: Resedaceae,
• Family: Salvadoraceae,
• Family: Tropaeolaceae,

Bruniales

List of Bruniales of South Africa – Order: Bruniales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Bruniaceae,

Buxales

List of Buxales of South Africa – Order: Buxales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Buxaceae,
  • Buxus macowanii Oliv. endemic
  • Buxus natalensis (Oliv.) Hutch. endemic

Canellales

List of Canellales of South Africa – Order: Canellales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Canellaceae,
  • Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. indigenous

Caryophyllales

List of Caryophyllales of South Africa – Order: Caryophyllales,

21 families are represented:

• Family: Aizoaceae,
• Family: Amaranthaceae,
• Family: Anacampserotaceae,
• Family: Basellaceae,
• Family: Cactaceae,
• Family: Caryophyllaceae,
• Family: Corbichoniaceae,
• Family: Didiereaceae,
• Family: Droseraceae,
• Family: Frankeniaceae,
• Family: Gisekiaceae,
• Family: Kewaceae,
• Family: Limeaceae,
• Family: Lophiocarpaceae,
• Family: Molluginaceae,
• Family: Nyctaginaceae,
• Family: Phytolaccaceae,
• Family: Plumbaginaceae,
• Family: Polygonaceae,
• Family: Portulacaceae,
• Family: Tamaricaceae,

Celastrales

List of Celastrales of South Africa – Order: Celastrales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Celastraceae,

Ceratophyllales

List of Ceratophyllales of South Africa – Order: Ceratophyllales,

One family is represented:

Family: Ceratophyllaceae,

• Ceratophyllum demersum L. indigenous
  • Ceratophyllum demersum L. var. demersum, indigenous
  • Ceratophyllum demersum L. var. demersum forma demersum, accepted as Ceratophyllum demersum L. var. demersum, present
• Ceratophyllum muricatum Cham. indigenous
  • Ceratophyllum muricatum Cham. subsp. muricatum, indigenous
• Ceratophyllum submersum L. indigenous
  • Ceratophyllum submersum L. subsp. muricatum (Cham.) Wilmot-Dear var. echinatum, accepted as Ceratophyllum muricatum Cham. subsp. muricatum, present
  • Ceratophyllum submersum L. subsp. submersum var. submersum, indigenous

Commelinales

List of Commelinales of South Africa – Order: Commelinales,

Three families are represented:

• Family: Commelinaceae,
• Family: Haemodoraceae,
• Family: Pontederiaceae,

Cornales

List of Cornales of South Africa – Order: Cornales,

Four families are represented:

• Family: Curtisiaceae,
  • Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm. indigenous
• Family: Grubbiaceae,
  • Grubbia rosmarinifolia P.J.Bergius, indigenous
    • Grubbia rosmarinifolia P.J.Bergius subsp. gracilis (T.M.Salter) Carlquist, endemic
    • Grubbia rosmarinifolia P.J.Bergius subsp. hirsuta (E.Mey. ex DC.) Carlquist, endemic
    • Grubbia rosmarinifolia P.J.Bergius subsp. rosmarinifolia var. pinifolia, endemic
    • Grubbia rosmarinifolia P.J.Bergius subsp. rosmarinifolia var. rosmarinifolia, endemic
  • Grubbia rourkei Carlquist, endemic
  • Grubbia tomentosa (Thunb.) Harms, endemic
• Family: Hydrostachyaceae,
  • Hydrostachys polymorpha Klotzsch ex A.Br. indigenous
• Family: Loasaceae,
  • Kissenia capensis Endl. indigenous

Crossosomatales

List of Crossosomatales of South Africa – Order: Crossosomatales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Aphloiaceae,
  • Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Benn. indigenous
• Family: Geissolomataceae,
  • Geissoloma marginatum (L.) Juss. endemic

Cucurbitales

List of Cucurbitales of South Africa – Order: Cucurbitales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Begoniaceae,
• Family: Cucurbitaceae,

Dioscoreales

List of Dioscoreales of South Africa – Order: Dioscoreales,

Three families are represented:

• Family: Burmanniaceae,
• Family: Dioscoreaceae,
• Family: Nartheciaceae,

Dipsacales

List of Dipsacales of South Africa – Order: Dipsacales,

Three families are represented:

• Family: Caprifoliaceae,
• Family: Dipsacaceae,
• Family: Valerianaceae,

Ericales

List of Ericales of South Africa – Order: Ericales,

11 families are represented:

• Family: Actinidiaceae,
• Family: Balsaminaceae,
• Family: Ebenaceae,
• Family: Ericaceae,
• Family: Lecythidaceae,
• Family: Maesaceae,
• Family: Myrsinaceae,
• Family: Primulaceae,
• Family: Roridulaceae,
• Family: Sapotaceae,
• Family: Theophrastaceae,

Escallionales

List of Escalloniales of South Africa – Order: Escalloniales,

One family is represented:

Family: Escalloniaceae,

• Choristylis rhamnoides Harv., accepted as Itea rhamnoides (Harv.) Kubitzki, indigenous^[1]
• Itea rhamnoides (Harv.) Kubitzki, indigenous

Fabales

List of Fabales of South Africa – Order: Fabales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Fabaceae,
• Family: Polygalaceae,

Fagales

List of Fagales of South Africa – Order: Fagales,

Five families are represented:

• Family: Betulaceae,
• Family: Casuarinaceae,
• Family: Fagaceae,
• Family: Juglandaceae,
• Family: Myricaceae,

Gentianales

List of Gentianales of South Africa – Order: Gentianales,

Five families are represented:

• Family: Apocynaceae,
• Family: Asclepiadaceae,
• Family: Gentianaceae,
• Family: Loganiaceae,
• Family: Rubiaceae,

Geraniales

List of Geraniales of South Africa – Order: Geraniales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Geraniaceae,
• Family: Melianthaceae,

Gunnerales

List of Gunnerales of South Africa – Order: Gunnerales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Gunneraceae,
  • Gunnera perpensa L. indigenous
• Family: Myrothamnaceae,
  • Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. indigenous

Huerteales

List of Huerteales of South Africa – Order: Huerteales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Gerrardinaceae,
  • Genus Gerrardina
    • Gerrardina foliosa Oliv. indigenous

Icacinales

List of Icacinales of South Africa – Order: Icacinales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Icacinaceae,
  • Genus Apodytes
    • Apodytes abbottii Potgieter & A.E.van Wyk, endemic
    • Apodytes dimidiata E.Mey. ex Arn. indigenous
      • Apodytes dimidiata E.Mey. ex Arn. subsp. Dimidiata, indigenous
    • Apodytes geldenhuysii A.E.van Wyk & Potgieter, endemic
  • Genus Cassinopsis
    • Cassinopsis ilicifolia (Hochst.) Kuntze, indigenous
    • Cassinopsis tinifolia Harv. indigenous
  • Genus Pyrenacantha
    • Pyrenacantha grandiflora Baill. indigenous
    • Pyrenacantha kaurabassana Baill. indigenous
    • Pyrenacantha scandens Planch. ex Harv. indigenous

Lamiales

List of Lamiales of South Africa – Order: Lamiales,

15 families are represented:

• Family: Acanthaceae,
• Family: Bignoniaceae,
• Family: Gesneriaceae,
• Family: Lamiaceae,
• Family: Lentibulariaceae,
• Family: Linderniaceae,
• Family: Martyniaceae,
• Family: Oleaceae,
• Family: Orobanchaceae,
• Family: Paulowniaceae,
• Family: Pedaliaceae,
• Family: Plantaginaceae,
• Family: Scrophulariaceae,
• Family: Stilbaceae,
• Family: Verbenaceae,

Laurales

List of Laurales of South Africa – Order: Laurales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Lauraceae,
  • Genus Cassytha
    • Cassytha ciliolata Nees, indigenous
    • Cassytha filiformis L. indigenous
    • Cassytha pondoensis Engl. endemic
      • Cassytha pondoensis Engl. var. pondoensis, not indigenous, naturalised
  • Genus Cinnamomum
    • Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, indigenous
  • Genus Cryptocarya
    • Cryptocarya angustifolia E.Mey. ex Meisn. endemic
    • Cryptocarya latifolia Sond. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
    • Cryptocarya liebertiana Engl. endemic
    • Cryptocarya myrtifolia Stapf, endemic
    • Cryptocarya transvaalensis Burtt Davy, indigenous
    • Cryptocarya woodii Engl. endemic
    • Cryptocarya wyliei Stapf, indigenous
  • Genus Dahlgrenodendron
    • Dahlgrenodendron natalense (J.H.Ross) J.J.M.van der Merwe & A.E.van Wyk, indigenous
  • Genus Gyrocarpus
    • Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. endemic
      • Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. subsp. africanus Kubitzki, endemic
  • Genus Litsea
    • Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
    • Litsea sebifera Pers. not indigenous, naturalised
  • Genus Ocotea
    • Ocotea bullata (Burch.) Baill. indigenous
    • Ocotea kenyensis (Chiov.) Robyns & R.Wilczek, indigenous
  • Genus Persea
    • Persea americana Mill. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive
• Family: Monimiaceae,
  • Genus Xymalos
    • Xymalos monospora (Harv.) Baill. indigenous

Liliales

List of Liliales of South Africa – Order: Liliales,

Five families are represented:

• Family: Alstroemeriaceae,
• Family: Colchicaceae,
• Family: Liliaceae,
• Family: Melanthiaceae,
• Family: Smilacaceae,

Magnoliales

List of Magnoliales of South Africa – Order: Magnoliales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Annonaceae,

Malpighiales

List of Malpighiales of South Africa – Order: Malpighiales,

20 families are represented:

• Family: Achariaceae,
• Family: Chrysobalanaceae,
• Family: Clusiaceae,
• Family: Dichapetalaceae,
• Family: Elatinaceae,
• Family: Erythroxylaceae,
• Family: Euphorbiaceae,
• Family: Hypericaceae,
• Family: Linaceae,
• Family: Malpighiaceae,
• Family: Ochnaceae,
• Family: Passifloraceae,
• Family: Phyllanthaceae,
• Family: Picrodendraceae,
• Family: Podostemaceae,
• Family: Putranjivaceae,
• Family: Rhizophoraceae,
• Family: Salicaceae,
• Family: Turneraceae,
• Family: Violaceae,

Malvales

List of Malvales of South Africa – Order: Malvales,

Six families are represented:

• Family: Balanophoraceae,
• Family: Cistaceae,
• Family: Cytinaceae,
• Family: Malvaceae,
• Family: Neuradaceae,
• Family: Thymelaeaceae,

Myrtales

List of Myrtales of South Africa – Order: Myrtales,

10 families are represented:

• Family: Combretaceae,
• Family: Heteropyxidaceae,
• Family: Lythraceae,
• Family: Melastomataceae,
• Family: Memecylaceae,
• Family: Myrtaceae,
• Family: Oliniaceae,
• Family: Onagraceae,
• Family: Penaeaceae,
• Family: Rhynchocalycaceae,

Nymphaeales

List of Nymphaeales of South Africa – Order: Nymphaeales,

Two families are represented:

Family: Cabombaceae,

• Genus Brasenia
  • Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel. indigenous

Family: Nymphaeaceae,

• Genus Nymphaea
  • Nymphaea lotus L. indigenous
  • Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. indigenous
    • Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc. indigenous
    • Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. var. zanzibariensis (Casp.) Verdc. indigenous

Oxalidales

List of Oxalidales of South Africa – Order: Oxalidales,

Four families are represented:

• Family: Connaraceae,
• Family: Cunoniaceae,
• Family: Elaeocarpaceae,
• Family: Oxalidaceae,

Pandanales

List of Pandanales of South Africa – Order: Pandanales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Velloziaceae,

Piperales

List of Piperales of South Africa – Order: Piperales,

Four families are represented:

Family: Aristolochiaceae,

• Genus Aristolochia
  • Aristolochia elegans Mast. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

Family: Hydnoraceae,

• Genus Hydnora
  • Hydnora abyssinica A.Br. indigenous
  • Hydnora africana Thunb. indigenous
  • Hydnora johannis Becc. var. johannis accepted as Hydnora abyssinica A.Br. present
  • Hydnora triceps Drege & E.Mey. indigenous
  • Hydnora visseri Bolin, E.Maass & Musselman, indigenous

Family: Piperaceae,

• Genus Peperomia
  • Peperomia blanda (Jacq.) Kunth, indigenous
    • Peperomia blanda (Jacq.) Kunth var. leptostachya (Hook. & Arn.) Dull, accepted as Peperomia blanda (Jacq.) Kunth, present
  • Peperomia retusa (L.f.) A.Dietr. indigenous
    • Peperomia retusa (L.f.) A.Dietr. var. bachmannii (C.DC.) Dull, indigenous
    • Peperomia retusa (L.f.) A.Dietr. var. retusa, indigenous
  • Peperomia rotundifolia (L.) Kunth, indigenous
  • Peperomia tetraphylla (G.Forst.) Hook. & Arn. indigenous
• Genus Piper
  • Piper capense L.f. var. capense, indigenous

Family: Saururaceae,

• Genus Houttuynia
  • Houttuynia cordata Thunb. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

Poales

List of Poales of South Africa – Order: Poales,

10 families are represented:

• Family: Bromeliaceae,
• Family: Cyperaceae,
• Family: Eriocaulaceae,
• Family: Flagellariaceae,
• Family: Juncaceae,
• Family: Poaceae,
• Family: Restionaceae,
• Family: Thurniaceae,
• Family: Typhaceae,
• Family: Xyridaceae,

Proteales

List of Proteales of South Africa – Order: Proteales,

Two families are represented:

• Family: Platanaceae,
• Family: Proteaceae,

Ranunculales

List of Ranunculales of South Africa – Order: Ranunculales,

Five families are represented:

• Family: Berberidaceae,
• Family: Fumariaceae,
• Family: Menispermaceae,
• Family: Papaveraceae,
• Family: Ranunculaceae,

Rosales

List of Rosales of South Africa – Order: Rosales,

Six families are represented:

• Family: Cannabaceae,
• Family: Moraceae,
• Family: Rhamnaceae,
• Family: Rosaceae,
• Family: Ulmaceae,
• Family: Urticaceae,

Santalales

List of Santalales of South Africa – Order: Santalales,

Three families are represented:

• Family: Loranthaceae,
• Family: Olacaceae,
• Family: Santalaceae,

Sapindales

List of Sapindales of South Africa – Order: Sapindales,

Eight families are represented:

• Family: Anacardiaceae,
• Family: Burseraceae,
• Family: Kirkiaceae,
• Family: Meliaceae,
• Family: Peganaceae,
• Family: Rutaceae,
• Family: Sapindaceae,
• Family: Simaroubaceae,

Saxifragales

List of Saxifragales of South Africa – Order: Saxifragales,

Four families are represented:

• Family: Altingiaceae,
• Family: Crassulaceae,
• Family: Haloragaceae,
• Family: Hamamelidaceae,

Solanales

List of Solanales of South Africa – Order: Solanales,

Four families are represented:

• Family: Convolvulaceae,
• Family: Montiniaceae,
• Family: Solanaceae,
• Family: Sphenocleaceae,

Vahliales

List of Vahliales of South Africa – Order: Vahliales,

One family is represented:

Family: Vahliaceae,

• Genus Vahlia
  • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. indigenous
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. capensis, indigenous
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. ellipticifolia Bridson, indigenous
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. vulgaris Bridson var. latifolia, endemic
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. vulgaris Bridson var. linearis, indigenous
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. vulgaris Bridson var. longifolia, indigenous
    • Vahlia capensis (L.f.) Thunb. subsp. vulgaris Bridson var. vulgaris, indigenous

Vitales

List of Vitales of South Africa – Order: Vitales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Vitaceae,

Zingiberales

List of Zingiberales of South Africa – Order: Zingiberales,

Five families are represented:

Family: Cannaceae,

• Genus Canna
  • Canna edulis Ker Gawl. accepted as Canna indica L. not indigenous, naturalised
  • Canna flaccida Salisb. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Canna glauca L. not indigenous, naturalised
  • Canna indica L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Canna x generalis L.H.Bailey, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

Family: Marantaceae,

• Genus Maranta
  • Maranta leuconeura E.Morren, not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised

Family: Musaceae,

• Genus Ensete
  • Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman, indigenous

Family: Strelitziaceae,

• Genus Strelitzia
  • Strelitzia alba (L.f.) Skeels, endemic
  • Strelitzia caudata R.A.Dyer, indigenous
  • Strelitzia juncea (Ker Gawl.) Link, endemic
  • Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Korn. indigenous
  • Strelitzia parvifolia W.T.Aiton var. juncea Ker Gawl. accepted asStrelitzia juncea (Ker Gawl.) Link, indigenous
  • Strelitzia reginae Banks, indigenous
    • Strelitzia reginae Banks subsp. mzimvubuensis Van Jaarsv. indigenous
    • Strelitzia reginae Banks subsp. reginae, indigenous
    • Strelitzia reginae Banks var. juncea (Ker Gawl.) H.E.Moore Strelitzia juncea (Ker Gawl.) Link, indigenous

Family: Zingiberaceae,

• Genus Alpinia
  • Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm., not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Genus Hedychium
  • Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm., not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive
  • Hedychium coronarium J.Konig, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Hedychium flavescens Roscoe, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Hedychium gardnerianum Ker Gawl., not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Genus Siphonochilus
  • Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt, indigenous
  • Siphonochilus natalensis (Schltr. & K.Schum.) J.M.Wood & Franks, accepted as Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Schweinf.) B.L.Burtt, present

Zygophyllales

List of Zygophyllales of South Africa – Order: Zygophyllales,

One family is represented:

• Family: Zygophyllaceae,

Notes and References

1. Book: Mucina, L. . Classifying Subtropical Forests of South Africa: Data Sources and Methods . Geobotany Studies . https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-67831-3_2 . Vegetation Survey and Classification of Subtropical Forests of Southern Africa . Springer, Cham . 2018 . 978-3-319-67830-6 . 7–46 . 10.1007/978-3-319-67831-3_2 . Nomenclature crosswalk between names used in Mucina et al. (2007) report and the current book. This crosswalk captures nomenclature changes during the period 2007–2017 in South African taxonomic literature. Current name = name in Mucina et al. (2007) Itea rhamnoides = Choristylis rhamnoides.