Groot Karoo (Great Karoo)
Karoo is a Khoisan word that means 'dry, hard, thirst land'. This semi-desert interior region is a unique arid zone, considered a wonder of the scientific world. It boasts the richest diversity of succulents (over 9,000 species) and greatest variety of land tortoises on the planet, as well as the Western Cape's largest collection of San (Bushman) rock art and the country's first Braille fossil trail which boasts a record number of mammal-like reptiles dating as far back as 250 million years. Although the Groot Karoo initially appears to have been unscarred by time, those who dig deeper will find that it has a fascinating historical and cultural heritage.
At the 19th century, Imperial British forces moved across its vast plains to engage the Boers in the Anglo-Boer War, leaving a trail of British graves to mark their northward path. In the past century it made medical history, being the birthplace of both Dr Christiaan Barnard (heart-transplant pioneer) and Dr Emil Hoffa (founder of the modern science of orthopedics). A tourist route through Kwa-Mandlenkosi Township in Beaufort West continues on to Nelspoort (where the largest collection of San rock art is found) and the quiet town of Murraysburg.
South of Beaufort West along the N1 are the small settlements of Leeu Gamka and Merweville and the picturesque and historic town of Prince Albert, with its thriving dried fruit industry. Laingsburg, further south on the N1, is the most geologically interesting area of the Groot Karoo. Traces of the devastating flood of 1981 can still be seen on some of the buildings. Still further south is Matjiesfontein, a small fragment of Queen Victoria's Empire.
Excerpt from: http://www.southafrica.com/western-cape/groot-karoo/
Nodes
Eberlanzia ferox
Pseudognaphalium undulatum
Clematis brachiata
Babiana hypogea
Phragmites australis
Helichrysum trilineatum
Cineraria lobata
Dichilus gracilis
Senecio erysimoides
Pages
Taxonomy term
Pentzia globosa
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From Latin globosus meaning globular, globose or spherical
Pentzia sphaerocephala
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From the Greek sphaero = 'spherical / round' and kephalon = 'head'; referring to the round flower heads
Phymaspermum aciculare
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From the Latin acicula = 'a needle' and -aris adjectival suffix for nouns meaning 'of or pertaining to'; i.e. pertaining to needles
Plinthus karooicus
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From the Khoisan/Khoekhoe word garo /karo / !garo-b = 'desert' or 'hard'; referring to the inland semi-desert Karoo region of South Africa
Poaceae
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Named after the genus Poa. Poa is Greek for grass.
Polygala leptophylla
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From the Greek leptos = 'thin / slender' and phyllum = 'leaf' - referring to a thin leaves
Pseudognaphalium undulatum
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From the Latin undulatus = 'undulating' or 'wavy'
Pteronia pallens
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From the Latin pallens = ‘pale’
Pteronia viscosa
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From the Latin viscosus = ‘sticky’
Rhus burchellii
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Commemorating William John Burchell (1781-1863), a 19th-century English explorer, British naturalist, traveller, artist and author. He discovered and documented many species during his travels through Southern Africa. He landed in Cape Town in 1810 and undertook many smaller trips. From 1811-1815 he covered over 7000km. He returned to England with over 50 000 plant specimens and published two volumes entitled Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa in 1822 and 1824.