spired the common name plough-breaker or
harrow-breaker for Erythrina zeyheri. The
name refers to the large tuberous rootstock
which damaged the ploughs that the farmers
used to prepare the soil. The Afrikaans name
“kouteriebos” (Cotyledon orbiculata) possibly
refers to the manner in which the plants pack
up against the colter (“kouter”) of a plough.
Some common names such as
”ploegtydblommetjie” or autumn star
(Empodium plicatum) and January bush
(Gnidia polycephala) indicate specific times on
the calendar. The vernacular name January
bush is in reference to the uselessness of the
plant as pasturage, because it is believed that
the species is poisonous to livestock. The naming is connected to a belief that originated in
the North West Province: according to this belief a person born in the month of January is
considered to be useless. Hopefully there are
some exceptions to prove those from the
North West wrong!
Another common name from the North West
is “trassiebos” or candlepod thorn (Vachellia
hebeclada subsp. hebeclada). The vernacular
prefix “trassie” is related to the original Khoikhoi word “tarras” – a woman or hermaphrodite. This was in common use by sheep farmers in the Kalahari for a hermaphroditic animal and they applied the same word to the
plants in a figurative sense. Livestock are liberally represented in common names of South
African plants such as “beestonge” or oxtongues (Gasteria spp.), “bokspoortjie” or
hoof mesemb (Cheiridopsis spp.),
“skaaptongetjie” or little sheep's tongue
(Titanopsis calcarea) and “kalkoentjie” or little
turkey (Gladiolus alatus).
“Perdetande” or horse teeth (Haworthia truncata) is a vernacular name that will warm the
hearts of horse lovers; there is an extraordinary resemblance between the plant and the
teeth of the animal. “Perdekapok” or horse
snow (Lanaria lanata) is used as bedding for