Geophila repens commonly known as Snake Pennywort
Another rare plant has been added to the long list of plants that are rare in South Africa that are to found growing in the eMalangeni Forest at Kosi Bay.
On the 19 March 2021 while walking in the eMalangeni Forest at Kosi Bay I saw a most attractive small creeping herb growing in a dense colony on the forest floor that was unknown to me. Little did I know at the time that this plant had only been discovered growing in South Africa in 2008 growing in a small dense colony in the Ngoye forest. See sanbi Red List of South African Plants http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=7623-4
Little did I know at the time that here in the eMalangeni
forest is only the second location in South Africa where this rare plant in
South Africa has been seen growing.
Here is a video taken with my mobile phone at the location that I discovered Geophila repens
On my return to Durban I spent much time attempting to identify
this plant without success eventually turning to the always very helpful friend
and colleague Prof. Dr. Neil Crouch at the KZN Herbarium in Durban for help. Within
minutes Prof. Crouch returned my query with the identification of this plant
that had eluded me for over a week. Below are two photos kindly given to me by Prof.Crouch of plants collected in the Ngoye Forest for me to post on this blog.
Once I had a name for this delightful little herb in the coffee family Rubiaceae I was able to search the internet to look for information regarding this plant that is so rare in our region. I discovered that although it is rare in our region it has a pantropical distribution. I also discovered it has antioxidant, antibacterial and fungicidal properties. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6151674/
I believe that his plant has tremendous potential to be
grown as a shade loving ground cover in the hot humid coastal regions of
KwaZulu-Natal as well as a pot plant, both options I will be investigating.
When I have photos of flowers and fruits I will post them, in the mean time please google Geophila repens for images.
Guided excursions
Guided excursions in English, Zulu and German into the eMalangeni Forest and surrounding area including the nearby Tembe Elephant Park can be arranged. Please visit my websites for contact details.
written by Michael Hickman
31.03.21
please visit my websites www.ecoman.co.za and www.hlem.co.za
as well as my other blogs at
http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/
http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/
