|
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. |
 |
|
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. |
 |
|
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. |
 |
|
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.
|