Towersig Hiking Trail

This bulbous plant is abundant on the lower slopes of the mountain and flowers beautifully during March.

This parasitic plant lives on other plants. It is spread by birds that feed on the seed. It is only semi-parasitic because it has its own chlorophyll and can photosynthesize. It is used for asthma, bronchitis and warts.

This common protea is rare along this route. The sugarbush is a valuable asset in the wild flower trade. In the past the syrup from the nectar was used as a chest remedy.

This beautiful member of the Crassulaceae is abundant along the trail.

It is widely used as a medicinal plant. Infusions of the young branches in brandy or wine were used for indigestion, dyspepsia, ulcers and stomach cancer. It was also used for loco disease in sheep. The Rhinoceros Bush also represents the interim vegetation type between fynbos and Succulent Karoo.

This protea is a member of the bearded proteas Flowersheads with outer bracts silky hairy, cream to pink with inner bracts a dense blackish beard.

These wonderful plants actually consist of two types of plants that live in symbiosis with each other. They consist of algae (that can photosynthesize and produce oxygen and carbohydrates) and fungi that anchor the lichen on the substrate, namely rocks and dry branches. Lichens are the first pioneer plants to start vegetation where no plants have ever grown. They vary in colour from light green to orange and brown.

There are about 18 different species of this family, all bearing yellow flowers.

This is the most important succulent in our region because of its size and economic value. The leaves are cut and stacked around a hole in the ground, lined with builder’s plastic. The bitter dark-brown liquid is tapped and used in the manufacturing of various products, e.g. beauty products, purgation medicine, arthritis, eczema, conjunctivitis, hypertension and stress. In the past tar-poles were painted with this juice instead of tar. It had the same protective properties as tar, but was much more eco-friendly.

The name of this small bush is derived from the beautiful cotton-like white and pink flowers. This plant has antispasmodic qualities and was used by the Khoi for stomach-ache.

This plant is a member of a large family found in the succulent region. The plant dies during prolonged droughts.

The Khoi used the sprouts of this large shrub to make their bows and arrows.

This common protea is found on the Swartberg Mountain range. It flowers irregularly throughout the year, but mostly in springtime. It is interesting to note that the trees in the same area do not bloom at the same time, so flowers are present over a longer period of time. Its strong wood was used in the wagon-making industry, hence the name waboom. In the past, the leaves of this species were also used to make ink, the bark was used for tanning leather and the wood was made into wheel rim sections and brake blocks for wagons.

It is a beautiful member of the succulent family with lovely pink and white flowers.

This grass-type is considered by botanists to be the single most valuable asset of Africa’s rich plant kingdom, because it is very palatable pasture for a wide variety of game and small stock.

It is the most typical shrub of the Little Karoo vegetation. Its berries were considered a favourite wild fruit in the earlier years. The wood is sought after as firewood and has also been used for inlay work on walking-sticks. Guarri-honey is the whitest and sweetest (it crystallizes in the honeycomb!) Powdered roots were used as medicine for headache and toothache.