PlantLife SA: PlantLife Volume 59.7, July 2025. Plants in South Africa named for Friedrich Wilms

Plants in South Africa named for Friedrich Wilms

Text by Barbara Turpin

Photos as indicated

A panoramic view of the Watervalsrivierspas Mountains outside Lydenburg where Wilms collected plants (B Turpin)

Friedrich Wilms has been commemorated in many plant names, including a lichen genus Wilmsia. Although some specific and infraspecific epithets of wilmsii or wilmsiana have now been reduced to synonymy, 21 remain accepted and are illustrated below. The first seven species occur on Buffelskloof Nature Reserve or in its vicinity, while the remainder are found further afield in Mpumalanga and beyond. As will be seen, in nearly every case, the authors of the individual taxa chose one of Wilms’ own collections as the type specimen and, with a few exceptions, there is a link to the appropriate scan on Global Plants.

Placynthium subradiatum (Nyl.) Arnold which was previously called Wilmsia radiosa, the lichen genus named for Friedrich Wilms. Photo: https://lichenportal.org

The type specimen, housed in the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, of the showy legume Argyrolobium wilmsii, collected by Friedrich Wilms ‘near the town’ of Lydenburg

Acalypha wilmsii Pax ex Prain & Hutch. (Euphorbiaceae) complex

Derivation: Acalypha from akalephe = nettle, or its sting – referring to the resemblance of the leaves of some species to those of Urtica (true nettle).

There appear to be three forms of this summer flowering, dioecious perennial herb or shrub. The typical form, with its flat, ovate leaves and more-or-less prostrate habit, is widely distributed in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho and Eswatini. Another form is restricted to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and a third occurs in the Lydenburg and Barberton centres. Both the latter and typical forms are found on Buffelskloof and are quite distinct in habit. The most common one found on the Reserve is the erect ‘Lydenburg’ form which can reach 1 m in height, often growing in big stands on slightly shaded slopes and has characteristic folded almost falcate leaves. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.bol137696?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dacalypha%2Bwilmsii

Acalypha wilmsii - Lydenberg form (J Burrows)

Acalypha wilmsii - typical form (J Burrows)

Searsia wilmsii (Diels) Moffett (Anacardiaceae)

Derivation: Searsia commemorates Paul Bigelow Sears (1891–1990), an American plant ecologist, university professor and president of various American ecological and scientific associations. He wrote a number of books, most notably Deserts on the March (1935), which endeavoured to explain ecological principles to the general public.

This geoxylic suffrutex is endemic to Mpumalanga and neighbouring Sekhukhuneland, found on mountain slopes particularly among dolerite intrusions at altitudes between 1200 m and 1770 m. It can form dense stands of stems up to 0.5 m tall, flowers in the summer to autumn and is encountered in the lower altitude wooded grasslands of Buffelskloof. The type specimen, Wilms 249, was collected in November 1894 at the waterfall on the Dorps River, north of Lydenburg. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.amd.22176?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Drhus%2Bwilmsii

Searsia wilmsii (B Turpin)

Searsia wilmsii (J Burrows)

Annesorhiza wilmsii H.Wolff (Apiaceae)

Derivation: Annesorhiza: from anison = anise, and rhiza = root – referring to the flavour of the edible tuberous root-stock.

In this genus the leaves generally appear first and have usually shrivelled by the time the plants are in flower. Annesorhiza wilmsii is exceptional and is often encountered with both leaves and flowering stems. This summer-flowering herb, up to 0.7 m tall is common in the rocky grasslands of Mpumalanga and Limpopo at altitudes of up to 1700 m. The type specimen, Wilms 554, was collected during the summer of 1894–1895 in the Lydenburg area. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.amd.21883?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dannesorhiza%2Bwilmsii

Annesorhiza wilmsii (J Burrows)

Lippia wilmsii H.Pearson (Verbenaceae)

Derivation: Lippia: commemorates Augustin Lippi (1678–1705) an Italian botanist and traveller who studied medicine at the University of Paris. In 1705, he was the botanical collector with a delegation sent to Ethiopia by King Louis XIV to set up trade and missionary links with Egypt. The party was attacked and Lippi was killed along with all but one member of the delegation.

This erect, perennial shrub reaching 1.3 m tall is found in recently burnt grasslands of the summer rainfall region of South Africa, western Eswatini and Namibia at altitudes of 135 m to 1950 m. Its white, cream or yellow flowers appear in the summer and the plant has a pleasant, less pungent fragrance than that of the more common Lippia javanica. The specimen designated as the type is Wilms 1180 collected near Lydenburg in December 1894. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000379425?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dlippia%2Bwilmsii

Lippia wilmsii (J-BNRH)

Craterostigma wilmsii Engl. ex Diels (Linderniaceae)

Derivation: Craterostigma: from krateros = bowl or cup, and stigma = the female part of a plant which receives the pollen at the top of the style – referring to the somewhat cup-shaped apex of the style.

This South African endemic ‘resurrection’ plant has been one of the subjects of research into drought-tolerant species at the University of Cape Town and many collections have been made at Buffelskloof over the years. It is a summer flowering succulent herb up to 170 mm tall with leaves arranged in a basal rosette and occurs in exposed grassland at altitudes between 1220 m and 2500 m in shallow soil often in moist places among rocks. Wilms 1047, the type specimen, was collected in February 1888 ‘at Hell’s Gate on the way to Spitskop’¹. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.amd.118391?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dcraterostigma%2Bwilmsii

Craterostigma wilmsii (J Burrows)

Tetraselago wilmsii (Rolfe) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt (Scrophulariaceae)

Derivation: Tetraselago: from tetra- = four, and Selago = a genus in Scrophulariaceae – referring to the four ovules, i.e. two in each locule of the ovary, contrasting with the two ovules, i.e. one in each locule found in the superficially similar genus Selago.

This multi-stemmed herbaceous shrub stands c. 0.5 m high and is a South African endemic occurring in the rocky grasslands of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo from 1200 m to 2000 m elevations. The colour of the characteristic dome-shaped flower heads ranges from purple through mauve to pale blue and even white sports have been seen on Buffelskloof. It has a long summer to early winter flowering season and is often found in disturbed areas near the local pine plantations. Wilms 1163, collected in March 1886 at Paardeplaats, just east of Lydenburg, is the type specimen. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000411464?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dtetraselago%2Bwilmsii

Tetraselago wilmsii (J Burrows)

Helichrysum wilmsii Moeser (Asteraceae)

Derivation: Helichrysum: from (h)elios = sun, and chrysos = gold – referring to the bright yellow flower heads of some species in this genus.

A rather untidy subshrub up to 0.5 m tall, this species is restricted to montane regions of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and western Eswatini with an altitudinal range of 1050–1980 m. Although it favours rough rocky grassland and forest margins, Helichrysum wilmsii seems to be a pioneer in disturbed areas such as pine plantation access roads around Buffelskloof. The sticky, glandular leaves are aromatic when crushed and flowering takes place from the summer to mid-winter, with a peak in the autumn. When compiling her treatment of Helichrysum, Hilliard (Hilliard 1983: 282) chose Wilms 707, a collection made between Spitzkop¹ and the Komati River in July 1884, as the type specimen (a ‘lectotype’). https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.bm000924204?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dhelichrysum%2Bwilmsii

Helichrysum wilmsii (J Burrows)

Omitted from the enumeration of plants commemorating Friedrich Wilms on Buffelskloof, are Cephalaria wilmsiana Szabó and Berkheya subulata Harv. var. wilmsiana Roessler, as they seem to be taxonomically uncertain. The following species do not occur on Buffelskloof but are found around Lydenburg and beyond.

Watsonia wilmsii L.Bolus (Iridaceae)

Derivation: Watsonia commemorates William Watson (1715–1787), an English physician, apothecary, botanist and naturalist who introduced Linnaeus’ botanical classification to Britain. He wrote articles for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society titled Experiments on the Nature of Electricity and became vice-president of the Society in 1772.

This geophyte, endemic to the Drakensberg Escarpment east of Lydenburg, was described in 1926 from Wilms’ specimen which was the only collection known at the time. It is found in rocky montane grassland at altitudes above 1600 m and flowers in late summer to autumn. Wilms 1440, collected in March 1886 at Paardeplaats near Lydenburg, became the type specimen. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000320473?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dwatsonia%2Bwilmsii

Watsonia wilmsii (J Burrows)

Melolobium wilmsii Harms (Fabaceae)

Derivation: Melolobium: from melos = joint, and lobion = small pod – referring to the joint-like constrictions between the seeds in the pod.

An erect, multi-stemmed shrub reaching 0.5 m in height, Melolobium wilmsii has yellow flowers and is a summer flowering South African endemic occurring in grasslands up to about 1500 m altitude in Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. It is possible that the type specimen, Wilms’ December 1883 collection 302 ‘between Middelburg and the Crocodile River’ was gathered on his initial journey from Pretoria to Lydenburg. Type of Melolobium wilmsii Harms [family LEGUMINOSAE] on JSTOR

Melolobium wilmsii (J-BNRH)

Argyrolobium wilmsii Harms (Fabaceae)

Derivation: Argyrolobium: from the Greek argyros = silver, and lobion = small pod – referring to silver-coloured hairs covering the fruit of most species.

‘A. wilmsii is one of the most beautiful species of Argyrolobium; it is a silver pyrophytic sub-shrub which bears a profusion of yellow flowers.’ (Edwards 2005: 384). This summer flowering plant occurs in the grasslands and woodlands of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Eswatini at altitudes of 640 m to1830 m. The type specimen, Wilms 257 was collected near the town of Lydenburg in December 1895 on ‘sunny slopes by the river’. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000227067?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dargyrolobium%2Bwilmsii

Argyrolobium wilmsii (J Burrows)

Psoralea wilmsii (Fabaceae) (Harms) (Syn. Otholobium wilmsii). Derivation: Psoralea: from psoraleos = warty – referring to the rough dark glands on parts of the plants in this genus.

A shrub or small tree up to 3 m tall found in rocky grassland at altitudes of 950 m to 2300 m, this species occurs in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini and flowers from July to March. The type specimen, Wilms 295, was collected in December 1892 or 1895, near Lydenburg, ‘on the river bank’. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.k000392504?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dotholobium%2Bwilmsii

Psoralea wilmsii (J Burrows)

Kirkia wilmsii Engl. (Kirkiaceae)

Derivation: Kirkia commemorates John Kirk (1832–1922), a Scottish explorer, naturalist, physician and diplomat, who famously joined David Livingstone’s second expedition in 1858. He went to Zanzibar in 1866 and became consul general and acting surgeon there in 1873. He was largely responsible for shutting down the slave trade in East Africa.

This tree up to 12 m tall, forms colonies on rocky, bushveld slopes between 365 m and 1495 m elevations in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northwest as well as Eswatini. K. wilmsii flowers in the summer and in the autumn when its foliage turns bright red creating quite a spectacle. One of the type specimens is Wilms 147, collected in November 1884 near the waterfall on the Dorps River near Lydenburg. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.l0821149?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dkirkia%2Bwilmsii

Kirkia wilmsii (T v.d. Merwe)

Polygala wilmsii Chodat (Polygalaceae)

Derivation: Polygala: from poly = much or many, and gala = milk – alluding to the old European belief that cows grazing in fields containing milkworts increased their milk production.

A perennial herb with erect or ascending stems up to 250 mm tall, it is found in the montane grasslands at altitudes of 800–2315 m in Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It flowers in mid- to late summer. The type specimen, Wilms 45, was collected in the summer of 1894–1895 in the Lydenburg district, ‘near the town’. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.e00193040?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dpolygala%2Bwilmsii

Polygala wilmsii (B Turpin)

Cyphostemma wilmsii (Gilg & M.Brandt) Desc. (Vitaceae)

Derivation: Cyphostemma: from kuphos = bent, and stemma = wreath or garland – apparently referring to the leaves arising at grotesque angles from the swollen stem (HF Glen).

This prostrate succulent with glaucous leaves was known only from the type specimen until Elizabeth Retief from SANBI identified a Burrows collection in BNRH from Abel Erasmus Pass area as Cyphostemma wilmsii in 2012. Wilms 172 and 173, collected ‘near Lydenburg’ were designated as the type specimens but unfortunately, I cannot locate the herbarium where these are lodged.

Cyphostemma wilmsii (B Turpin)

Hypericum wilmsii R.Keller (Hypericaceae)

Derivation: Hypericum: from hyper = above, and ikon = image – alluding to the ancient practice of placing flowers above images to ward off evil spirits on the feast of St John, hence the vernacular name St John’s wort.

A perennial herb with yellow flowers up to 200 mm tall, Hypericum wilmsii occurs in damp areas and on mountain sides at altitudes of around 1675 m in Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and on Madagascar. The type specimen, Wilms 136, collected ‘near Lydenburg’, appears to be housed in Vienna (W), with a fragment in PRE, but there is no image available.

Hypericum wilmsii (J-BNRH)

Adenia wilmsii Harms (Passifloraceae)

Derivation: Adenia: named after Aden in Yemen where the 18^th century Swedish naturalist and explorer Pehr Forsskål found a species of this plant.

This early summer flowering erect perennial herb c. 300 mm tall arises from a tuberous rootstock. A very narrow endemic to Mpumalanga, Adenia wilmsii is found in only a few localities in montane grassland and Lydenburg Thornveld between 1300 m and 1500 m altitude. Its conservation status is Endangered as plants are harvested for use in traditional medicine. The type specimen, Wilms 961 was collected in September 1892 ‘near the town of Lydenburg’. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.bm000902536?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dadenia%2Bwilmsii

Adenia wilmsii (J Burrows)

Vitex obovata E.Mey. subsp. wilmsii (Gürke) C.L.Bredenkamp & D.J.Botha (Lamiaceae)

Derivation: Vitex: from vico = to bind – alluding to the flexible stems of certain species. Pliny the Elder employed the name Vitex for the Mediterranean V. agnus-castus which is used in basket-making; obovata = inverted egg-shaped – referring to the shape of the leaves.

This summer flowering tree, usually c. 4 m tall but sometimes reaching 9 m, occurs on rocky outcrops and deep sandy soils in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eswatini. Wilms 158, collected in December 1894 ‘near the town of Lydenburg’ was chosen as the type specimen for this taxon (lectotype). https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.g00023642?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dvitex%2Bwilmsii

Vitex obovata subsp. wilmsii (J Burrows)

Linderniella wilmsii (Engl.) Eb.Fisch., Schäferh. & Kai Müll. (Linderniaceae)

Derivation: Linderniella: from -ella = diminutive, and Lindernia = a genus commemorating Franz Balthazar von Lindern (1682–1755), a German physician, author and botanist who taught botany, chemistry and pharmacology at the University of Strasbourg. Notably, he wrote a book titled Venus Krankheiten (Venus [venereal] Diseases) in German rather than the customary Latin so that it might reach less well-educated citizens.

Flowering in the summer and early autumn, this tiny annual herb, up to 90 mm tall, is found in wet, shallow rock depressions at altitudes of 670–1525 m. It has a wide distribution from Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini in the south, through Mozambique and Zimbabwe, north into tropical Africa. Wilms 900, collected in February 1888 from ‘Hell’s Gate on the way to Spitskop’¹, became the type specimen for Ilysanthes wilmsii (a synonym for Lindernia wilmsii and subsequently Linderniella wilmsii). https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.e00193441?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dlindernia%2Bwilmsii

Linderniella wilmsii (B Turpin)

Streptocarpus wilmsii Engl. (Gesneriaceae)

Derivation: Streptocarpus: from streptos = twisted, and karpos = fruit – referring to the spirally twisted pods characteristic of the genus.

The range of this monocarpic² or occasionally perennial herb is restricted to steep forested slopes in Mpumalanga and Eswatini at altitudes of 1300–1920 m. Reaching c. 450 mm in height, it is sometimes lithophytic or epiphytic, and flowers in the summer and early autumn. The type specimen is Wilms 1025 which he collected in February 1888 at Spitskop¹. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.bm000930955?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dstreptocarpus%2Bwilmsii

Streptocarpus wilmsii (M Lotter)

Streptocarpus wilmsii (N Crouch)

Barleria wilmsiana Lindau (Acanthaceae)

Derivation: Barleria: commemorates Jacques Barrelier (1606–1673), a French monk, biologist, botanist and physician who collected plants in France, Spain and Italy. He worked on a book describing these plants and made over 300 detailed copper engravings but died before completing it. Sadly, his notes were destroyed by fire but the plates survived and the French botanist Antoine de Jussieu published the book posthumously under the title Plantae per Galliam, Hispaniam et Italiam observata.

This South African endemic is found at a few localities in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. A dwarf shrub or herb up to 0.5 m tall, it flowers in early and late summer and early winter. It occurs in grassland and wooded hillsides at altitudes of 490–1585 m. The type specimen, Wilms 1217, was collected in October 1895 ‘near the town of Lydenburg’. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.bm000931080?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dbarleria%2Bwilmsiana

Barleria wilmsiana (M Lötter)

Sonchus wilmsii R.E.Fr. (Asteraceae)

Derivation: Sonchus: Greek sonchos = an ancient name for Sow thistle. Plants in this genus exude a milky latex when cut and it was believed that if lactating sows were fed on it, their milk production would increase.

This widespread perennial herb up to 1 m tall, occurs in the summer rainfall region of South Africa and Eswatini along roadsides and in secondary grassland from sea-level to 1500 m. It flowers in the summer and has a milky exudate when damaged. The type specimen, Wilms 636, was collected in December 1883, between Middelburg and the Crocodile River, perhaps on his way to Lydenburg from Pretoria. https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.specimen.e00239941?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps_group_by_genus_species%2Basc%26Query%3Dsonchus%2Bwilmsii

Sonchus wilmsii (R Palmer)

Acknowledgement: This article is reproduced, with permission, from Bio-Chat, the in-house newsletter of the Buffelskloof Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, produced by John and Sandie Burrows. Bio-Chat is no longer available.

Notes:

¹The Spitskop referred to by Wilms, is the gold-mining area just south of Sabie rather than the Spitskop near Lydenburg.

²monocarpic: referring to plants in the genus Streptocarpus which flower and fruit only once and then die.

References:

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About the author: From 2011 to 2021, I was immensely fortunate, through a series of happy coincidences, to be employed by Buffelskloof Nature Reserve Trust as a Herbarium Technician under the curatorship of John Burrows. And what an amazing decade it was! Through the leadership of the charismatic John and Sandie and their major botanical projects, I was privileged to take part in plant hunting expeditions in Eswatini and Mozambique as well as South Africa. During my time in Mpumalanga, I met many wonderful people, botanists and plant-lovers who were (and are) so patient with me and generous with their sharing of botanical knowledge and understanding. It was an extraordinary chapter of my life – full of awesome experiences in the field and on the Reserve – for which I am profoundly and eternally grateful.

PlantLife SA

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PlantLife Volume 59.7, July 2025. Plants in South Africa named for Friedrich Wilms

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