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Family:
Lythraceae (pomegranate family)
[= Punicaceae, Trapaceae]
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 > Rosids > Eurosid
II > Order: Myrtales
Thirty-one genera and 620 species, widely distributed with Seven genera and 47
species native to southern Africa, two genera and three species that are naturalised, and a further seven genera and 19 species that are cultivated in
the region.
Genera native to southern Africa
List from Bredenkamp (2000).
Ammannia
About 25 species (tropical, subtropical and temperate regions), with four
species native to southern Africa. |
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Galpinia
One species: Galpinia transvaalica (Transvaal privet), native to southern Africa (Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eastern South Africa). |
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Hionanthera
One species native to southern Africa: Hionanthera garciae (recorded
from Zimbabwe). |
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Nesaea
About 50-70 species worldwide, of which 28 species are native to
southern Africa. In addition, Nesaea calcicola (native to
Madagascar) is cultivated in the region. |
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Pemphis
One species native to southern Africa: Pemphis acidula (recorded from
Mozambique). |
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Rotala
About 40 species, found in warmer regions; 11 species are
native to southern Africa. |
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Trapa
One variable, aquatic species: Trapa natans (Water chestnut, Water
caltrops, Saligot, Horn nut, Jesuit's nut, Ling nut, Singhara nut) |
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Species naturalised in southern Africa
List from Bredenkamp (2000).
Heimia
Three species, native from Texas to Argentina and also Jamaica.
Heimia myrtifolia has become naturalised in southern Africa. |
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Lythrum
Total of 35 species, widely distributed. Although there are no native
species in southern Africa, Lythrum hyssopifolium and Lythrum
salicaria (Purple loosestrife) (from temperate Old World), have
been introduced to the region and become naturalised. The latter species is
a declared Category 1 invasive plant
in South Africa. In addition, Lythrum flexuosum (from Spain) is
cultivated in the region. |
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Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002).
Species are listed where there is only one species cultivated in the genus.
Duabanga grandiflora (Pedada
bukit)
Native from Sikkim (state of India at foot of Himalayas) to Malaysia. |
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Cuphea
About 260 species, native to warm regions of the Americas.
Seven species and one hybrid cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Lafoensia
Two species cultivated: Lafoensia pacari (Pacari, Dedaleira Amarilla)
(native to Brazil) and Lafoensia vandelliana (Piqui amarelho, Pau
de bicho) (native from Bolivia to Brazil). |
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Lawsonia inermis (Henna)
Native to North Africa, SW Asia and northern Australasia. Leaves contain
lawsone, which is a dye molecule that binds with protein and renders the
proteinaceous substance a reddish-brown colour. In this way it is used it is
used extensively for dying hair, skin, fingernails, leather, silk and wool.
See Wikipedia
for more. |
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Lagerstroemia
About 50 species, native to Asia, Australia and Oceania. Four species are
cultivated in southern Africa as ornamental trees in gardens. |
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Punica granatum (Pomegranate)
Indigenous from Turkey to Central Asia. Cultivated for its edible fruit.
Cultivated plants in southern Africa are mainly in gardens but it is also
grown commercially on a small scale. |
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Woodfordia fruticosa (Fire-flame
Bush, Shinajitea, Woodfordia)
Native from Tanzania through to Indonesia. |
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Publications
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Bredenkamp, C.L. 2000. Lythraceae. In: Seed Plants of
Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 344-345.
National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of
Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
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