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Bignoniaceae (Jacaranda family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Eudicotyledons >  Core Eudicots >  Asterids >  Euasterid I > Order: Lamiales

Worldwide, there are about 750 species and 109 genera in the family Bignoniaceae, with 13 species and 8 genera (including 2 naturalised) in southern Africa. In addition, there are many species from other parts of the world grown in gardens.

Genera native or naturalised in southern Africa

List from Smithies (2000).

Catophractes

One species: Catophractes alexandri, with a subtropical distribution in Africa, extending down into southern Africa as far south as Gordonia in the Northern Cape.

 

* Jacaranda

The 49 species are native to the neotropics. Jacaranda mimosifolia, is grown as a garden and street tree in southern Africa. However, it has become naturalised in woodland regions of South Africa and has now been declared an ornamental invader plant, meaning that it used for ornamental purposes in demarcated areas.

Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda tree)

Kigelia

One species: Kigelia africana (Sausage Tree), found in tropical Africa, its distribution extending down into southern Africa about as far south as Durban.

 

* Macfadyena

The 3 or 4 species are native to tropical America. Macfadyena unguis-cati  (Cat's claw creeper) is indigenous from Mexico to Argentina and has been introduced to South Africa as a garden plant. However, it has become naturalised in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal and is a declared Category 1 invasive plant in South Africa.

 

Markhamia

A total of 10 species, found in tropical Africa, and Asia, with 2 species found in southern Africa.

Podranea

One or two species, native to Africa: Podranea ricasoliana is found at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape but may be the same species as Podranea brycei from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

Podranea sp.

Rhigozum

A total of 7 species, native to Africa and Madagascar, with 5 species found in southern Africa. 

 

Tecoma [=Tecomaria] (Cape Honeysuckle genus)

There are about 13 species, of which 12 occur in the neotropics. The remaining one, Tecoma capensis (Cape Honeysuckle) is found in southern Africa, from Limpopo down to the Eastern Cape. It is also widely grown as a garden plant. 

Other genera, cultivated in southen Africa

There are many exotic species from tropical regions that have been imported for cultivation in gardens in southern Africa, because of their large, colourful flowers and growth form (mainly creepers and large trees).

List from Glen (2002). The species name is provided in genera that have only one species cultivated in southern Africa.

Adenocalymma inundatum

Indigenous from Guyana to Peru.

 

Anemopaegma chamberlaynii

Indigenous to Brazil.

 

Arrabidaea selloi (Cipó camarão de sello)

Indigenous from Brazil to Argentina.

 

Bignonia capreolata

 

 

Campsis

Two species cultivated.

 

Catalpa

Three species cultivated.

 

Chilopsis linearis (Flowering willow)

Indigenous to southwestern USA, and Mexico.

 

Clytostoma

Two species cultivated.

 

Crescentia cujete (Tree calabash)

Indigenous from Mexico to Panama.

 

Cuspidaria

Two species cultivated.

 

Cybistax antisyphilitica (Ipe verde)

Indigenous from Surinam to Argentina.

 

Distictis

There are 9 species in this genus of climbing, evergreen perenials, native to Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. Of these, two are cultivated in gardens in southern Africa: Distictis buccinatoria (Bignonia cherere), pictured on the right, and Distictis laxiflora.

Dolichandra cynanchoides (Pata de galo)

Indigenous from Brazil to Argentina.

 

Dolichandrone alba

Indigenous to Mozambique.

 

Fernandoa

Two species cultivated.

 

Incarvillea delavayi

Indigenous to China.

 

Ophiocolea floribunda

Indigenous to Madagascar.

 

Pandorea

Two species cultivated.

 

Parmentiera cereifera (Candle tree, Chote)

Indigenous to Panama.

 

Phyllarthron madagascariense

Indigenous to Madagascar.

 

Pithecoctenium

Two species cultivated.

 

Pyrostegia venusta (Flame vine, Golden shower)

Indigenous to Brazil and Paraguay.

 

Radermachera

Two species cultivated.

 

Saritaea magnifica

Indigenous to Colombia and Ecuador.

 

Spathodea

Two species cultivated (both native to tropical Africa): Spathodea campanulata (African flame tree, Uganda flame tree) and Spathodea nilotica.

Spathodea campanulata

Stereospermum

Three species cultivated.

 

Tabebuia

14 species cultivated.

 

Tecomanthe dendrophila

Indigenous from Indonesia to the Solomon Islands.

 

Tecomella undulata

Indigenous from Arabia to Pakistan.

 

Tourrettia lappacea (Güisquilillo)

Indigenous from Mexico to Argentina.

 

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.

  • Smithies, S.J. 2000. Bignoniaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 175-178. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

 


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