#knowltonia

Plant of the Day

Friday 7 January 2022

In the cool glasshouse of Cambridge Botanic Garden, UK, the unusual yellow-green flowers of Knowltonia capensis (blisterleaf) can be seen. These flowers are followed by black fleshy fruits. Care should be taken when handling the leaves or roots as both cause a strong allergic reaction which results in blisters, hence the common name ‘blisterleaf’.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 5 November 2019

The amazing branched flowers of the South African native Knowltonia capensis (blistering leaves). This is a slow-growing, herbaceous perennial with a short rhizome and fleshy roots. The flowers consist of creamy-green sepals with no petals. It grows naturally on the edge of forests and so thrives in a shaded location and here was in the protection of a cool glasshouse.

Knowltonia update 05.05.2018