Thulisile Jaca

• MSc
• South African National Biodiversity Institute

This paper presents the first spectral reflectance dataset of snakegrass (Equisetum hyemale L.) invasive alien species recorded in South Africa. A total of 338 plant specimens were collected in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal province, and carefully stored in a cooler box for less than 24 hours of collection to retain the structural and biochemical state of...

The emerging alien cactus Cylindropuntia pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth originates from northern Mexico and introduced into South Africa in 1940s as an ornamental plant. Multiple populations of C. pallida have been detected in various areas of South Africa. C. pallida has effective propagule dispersal and rapid recruitment making it a likely key future...

Biological invasions are a major threat to natural systems, as well as to human wellbeing and livelihoods. An association of alien plant species with dump sites has received limited research attention in South Africa, and this creates a loophole for effective monitoring and management. We surveyed dump sites from 79 towns/localities in the Free Sta...

During the examination of the rich collections of the genus, Rhynchosia housed in some South African herbaria (BNRH, NH, PRE), a new and yet to be described species was discovered. The species is similar to R. pauciflora in its erect habit, linear or oblong leaflets, and solitary flowers. The study is based on the examination of herbarium specimens...

Background: A taxonomic study of the genus Rhynchosia section Chrysoscias is presented. The section (as classified by Baker) comprises five taxa (four species and one variety). Previous revisions of the section by various botanists placed emphasis on leaflet shape and number of flowers as the primary characters to distinguish the species, however,...

Background: Rhynchosia section Arcyphyllum is one of the five sections of Rhynchosia as currently circumscribed. Previous studies in South Africa placed two species of Rhynchosia in this section. Some authors treated the species as a group rather than a section, to avoid phytogeographical confusion because the section is based on the North American...

Background: A first record of a naturalised population of Mahonia oiwakensis (=Mahonia lomariifolia) in South Africa is presented. The species is native to China and is cultivated in South Africa as an ornamental plant. Objectives: To document a new record of M. oiwakensis, provide a brief description of its morphology and note its ecology and curr...

Background: A first record of a naturalised population of Mahonia oiwakensis (=Mahonia lomariifolia) in South Africa is presented. The species is native to China and is cultivated in South Africa as an ornamental plant. Objectives: To document a new record of M. oiwakensis, provide a brief description of its morphology and note its ecology and curr...

Opuntioid cacti have caused some of the most damaging plant invasions globally. While many of these invaders were introduced for ornamental and some agriculture use, there are an increasing number of records of invasive ornamental species. Here we report the first detailed invasion by Opuntia pubescens and investigate the potential for eradicating...

The yellow flag iris, Iris pseudacorus L., was recorded for the first time outside of cultivation in South Africa along the Vaal River in Gauteng Province in 2004. The yellow flag iris is native to Eurasia and North Africa and was probably introduced to South Africa as an ornamental plant. We recorded I. pseudacorus in four of the nine provinces of...

Genus Caesalpinia L. belongs to the tribe Caesalpinieae Benth. in the Fabaceae family, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. The subfamily includes approximately 2250 species in 171 genera distributed in tropics and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America. The genus in its broadest sense comprises of about 140 species distributed thro...

Verbascum thapsus (Common mullein) is a hairy biennial herb with rosette leaves in the first year. It is native to Europe and naturalized in temperate areas of the world, including North America, Hawai'i, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant spreads through production of numerous seeds (up to 180,000) per plant, which are produced during the secon...

Abstract— Rhynchosia sect. Polytropia is restricted to South Africa and comprises two closely related species (R. ferulaefolia and R. pinnata), which are characterized by pinnately or bipinnately plurijugate, or decompound leaves. The identity of the latter species is, however, uncertain. Several specimens, mostly from the Caledon and neighbouring...

The genus Rhynchosia, which comprises ca. 230 species worldwide, is a member of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Papilionoideae, and is placed in the tribe Phaseoleae, subtribe Cajaninae. The southern African species are divided into five sections: Cyanospermum (1 sp.) Arcyphyllum (2 spp.), Chrysoscias (4 spp.), Polytropia (3 spp.) and Rhynchosia (Eu...

Caesalpinioideae subfamily (Fabaceae) comprises of ca. 150 genera and 2200 species distributed worldwide. A review of the studied genera and species of alien Caesalpinioideae occurring in South Africa based on collections deposited at the three major herbaria (PRE, NBG and NH), and field observation, is presented.The alien Caesalpinioideae species...

We review Rhynchosia section Cyanospermum in South Africa. It is characterised by a robust habit, racemose inflorescence of numerous flowers with a large, tomentose calyx with broad lobes, and dark blue seeds. The section is represented in the Flora of southern Africa Region by two species, R. hirta and R. resinosa. However, the latter species lack...

Wild medicinal leafy vegetables are consumed by many rural villagers of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. These vegetables are easily accessible at no cost. This paper presents findings of a survey of plants used as vegetables and for medicinal purposes in the Eastern Cape Province. Regular consumers of these plants interviewed revealed that four out...

Wild medicinal leafy vegetables are consumed by many rural villagers of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. These vegetables are easily accessible at no cost. This paper presents findings of a survey of plants used as vegetables and for medicinal purposes in the Eastern Cape Province. Regular consumers of these plants interviewed revealed that four out...