Threatened Plant Species – Woodii verruculosa

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This is the first of a series of posts with information about a Threatened Plant that should be flowering in the Midlands right now.  Information is supplied by CREW – Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers.

CREW is a programme that involves volunteers from the public in the monitoring and conservation of South Africa’s threatened plants. In doing so, CREW aims to capacitate a network of volunteers from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. The programme links volunteers with their local conservation agencies and particularly with local land stewardship initiatives to ensure the conservation of key sites for threatened plant species.

Woodia verruculosa-Alison Young

APOCYNACEAE Woodia verruculosa [Vulnerable]

Woodia verruculosa is a perennial herb. Found in mistbelt and Ngongoni Grassland. Midlands and southern Zululand. Mostly recorded between Howick and Eston.

  • Stems 15-25 mm tall arising from a tuberous rootstock, falling seasonally, upright, simple, with milky latex.
  • Leaves are broad, rough, 4-7 pairs.
  • Corolla 3- lobed.
  • Peduncles 200-500 mm long.
  • Sepals longer than corolla. It is said to flower from October to December.

If you have seen this plant, please contact Suvarna Parbhoo, CREW programme: KZN Node Manager s.parbhoo@sanbi.org.za

If you are keen to join the Midlands CREW group, contact info@midlandsconservancies.org.za

r Woodia verrucosa_Alison Young

  • References: BROWN, N.E. 1907-1909. Asclepiadaceae. Flora Capensis 4.1:516
  • Photographer: Alison Young

 

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About Midlands Conservancies Forum

Welcome to the Midlands Conservancies Forum Blog. The conservancy movement in South Africa has its roots in KZN Midlands with Balgowan being the first conservancy established in 1978 by landowners in the area who were concerned about the reduction in the number of game and general degradation of the environment. Today there are 14 conservancies within or overlapping the Umgeni Local Municipality. In keeping pace with international environmental issues and the ever-increasing threat to our dwindling biodiversity the conservancy movement has expanded its influence to include challenges way beyond the founding concerns for the reduction in game and general degradation of the environment. The fact of the matter is that, at the very least, the state of the environment in the KZN Midlands is of vitally and direct importance to well in excess of 3 million people who depend largely on this region for their fresh water. In terms of global the planet has 34 biodiversity hotspots which are the Earth’s most biologically rich and threatened areas. These hotspots hold especially high numbers of unique species, yet their combined area now covers only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. South Africa is home to 3 of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and the Midlands not only falls into the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot but is one of the 21 priority nodes that have been identified by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund for investment aimed at securing existing biodiversity. The Midlands Conservancy Forum is proud to have been awarded a two year grant that has been used to establish the MCF Biodiversity Stewardship project that is working closely with KZN Wildlife. The reality of the Conservancy movement is that it has until know been championed by volunteers who are landowners and, in many cases, have precious little time and therefore this needs to be used to the maximum potential. This has lead to the establishment, and current success, of the MCF. It is an ideal forum to share knowledge, experiences and collectively tackle common issues in the most co-0rdinated and effective way possible. It is also a forum that has the capacity, through its landowner support base, geographical influence and biological inventory, to attract funding for critical environmental projects. It is also a forum for any and all government departments, NGOs and industries to engage with environmentally minded landowners. Through this blog we hope to promote the aims of the MCF in general and the sharing of information in particular. It is your platform to express and respond to ideas and concerns. Please use it wisely and respectfully!

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