Nymania capensis white branchlets at the Gariep

This Nymania capensis plant was photographed in June in the Aughrabies National Park on the Gariep River (previously known as the Orange River). The species has a large north-westerly distribution reaching well into Namibia, separate from its presence in the Little Karoo and larger than it. The plants growing here already present some differences compared to those of the Little Karoo.

The fascicled leaves are smaller, especially shorter, while the young fruit capsules are more brightly coloured. The flowers of N. capensis trees occurring in the Richtersveld are known to be brighter and more red than their southern counterparts.

The distinctly white upper stems seen here differ from the green to brown branchlets of plants in the southern distribution. Also note the augmented branching angles on this specimen. But there is (still) only one species of N. capensis in southern Africa (Mannheimer and Curtis, (Ed.), 2009; Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).