TheMalpighiales comprise one of the largestorders offlowering plants, containing about 36 families and more than 16,000species, about 7.8% of theeudicots.^[1][2] The order is very diverse, containing plants as different as thewillow,violet,poinsettia,manchineel,rafflesia andcoca plant, and are hard to recognize except withmolecular phylogenetic evidence. It is not part of any of theclassification systems based only onplant morphology.Molecular clock calculations estimate the origin ofstem group Malpighiales at around 100 million years ago (Mya) and the origin ofcrown group Malpighiales at about 90 Mya.^[3]

Theanthophytes are a grouping of plant taxa bearing flower-like reproductive structures. They were formerly thought to be aclade comprising plants bearing flower-like structures. The group contained theangiosperms - the extant flowering plants, such asroses andgrasses - as well as theGnetales and the extinctBennettitales.^[4]

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened.^[5] Ninebiomes have been described in South Africa:Fynbos, SucculentKaroo,desert,Nama Karoo,grassland,savanna,Albany thickets, theIndian Ocean coastal belt, andforests.^[6]

The 2018South African National Biodiversity Institute'sNational Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phylaAnthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)),Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)),Bryophyta (mosses (685)),Cycadophyta (cycads (42)),Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)),Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)),Pinophyta (conifers (33)), andPteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).^[7]

20families are represented in the literature. Listedtaxa includespecies,subspecies,varieties, andforms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa assynonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflecttaxonomic revision over time.

Family:Achariaceae,^[7]

GenusAcharia:^[7]

• Acharia tragodes Thunb. endemic

GenusCeratiosicyos:^[7]

• Ceratiosicyos laevis (Thunb.) A.Meeuse, indigenous

GenusGuthriea:^[7]

• Guthriea capensis Bolus, indigenous

GenusKiggelaria:^[7]

• Kiggelaria africana L. indigenous

GenusRawsonia:^[7]

• Rawsonia lucida Harv. & Sond. indigenous

GenusXylotheca:^[7]

• Xylotheca kraussiana Hochst. indigenous

Family:Chrysobalanaceae,^[7]

GenusParinari:^[7]

• Parinari capensis Harv. indigenous
  • Parinari capensis Harv. subsp.capensis, indigenous
  • Parinari capensis Harv. subsp.incohata F.White, indigenous
• Parinari curatellifolia Planch. ex Benth. indigenous

Family:Clusiaceae,^[7]

GenusClusia:^[7]

• Clusia rosea Jacq. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

GenusGarcinia:^[7]

• Garcinia gerrardii Harv. ex Sim, indigenous
• Garcinia livingstonei T.Anderson, indigenous

Family:Dichapetalaceae,^[7]

GenusDichapetalum:^[7]

• Dichapetalum cymosum (Hook.) Engl. indigenous

GenusTapura:^[7]

• Tapura fischeri Engl. indigenous

Family:Elatinaceae,^[7]

GenusBergia:^[7]

• Bergia anagalloides E.Mey. ex Fenzl, indigenous
• Bergia capensis L. indigenous
• Bergia decumbens Planch. ex Harv. indigenous
• Bergia glomerata L.f. endemic
• Bergia pentheriana Keissl. indigenous
• Bergia polyantha Sond. indigenous
• Bergia salaria Bremek. indigenous

GenusElatine:^[7]

• Elatine ambigua Wight, indigenous
• Elatine triandra Schkuhr, indigenous

Family:Erythroxylaceae,^[7]

GenusErythroxylum:^[7]

• Erythroxylum delagoense Schinz, indigenous
• Erythroxylum emarginatum Thonn. indigenous
• Erythroxylum pictum E.Mey. ex Sond. endemic

GenusNectaropetalum:^[7]

• Nectaropetalum capense (Bolus) Stapf & Boodle, endemic
• Nectaropetalum zuluense (Schonland) Corbishley, endemic

Family:Euphorbiaceae,^[7] 47 genera have been recorded. Not all are necessarily currently accepted.

Family:Hypericaceae,^[7]

GenusHypericum:^[7]

• Hypericum aethiopicum Thunb. indigenous
  • Hypericum aethiopicum Thunb. subsp.aethiopicum, indigenous
  • Hypericum aethiopicum Thunb. subsp.sonderi (Bredell) N.Robson, indigenous
• Hypericum androsaemum L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Hypericum canariense L. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive
• Hypericum forrestii (Chitt.) N.Robson, not indigenous, naturalised
• Hypericum hookerianum Wight & Arn. not indigenous, naturalised
• Hypericum lalandii Choisy, indigenous
• Hypericum natalense J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans, indigenous
• Hypericum perforatum L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Hypericum pseudohenryi N.Robson, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Hypericum revolutum Vahl, indigenous
  • Hypericum revolutum Vahl subsp.revolutum, indigenous
• Hypericum roeperianum G.W.Schimp. ex A.Rich. indigenous
  • Hypericum roeperianum G.W.Schimp. ex A.Rich. var.roeperianum, indigenous
• Hypericum wilmsii R.Keller, indigenous

Family:Linaceae,^[7]

GenusHugonia:^[7]

• Hugonia orientalis Engl. indigenous

GenusLinum:^[7]

• Linum acuticarpum C.M.Rogers, endemic
• Linum adustum E.Mey. ex Planch. endemic
• Linum aethiopicum Thunb. endemic
• Linum africanum L. endemic
• Linum brevistylum C.M.Rogers, endemic
• Linum comptonii C.M.Rogers, endemic
• Linum esterhuyseniae C.M.Rogers, endemic
• Linum gracile Planch. endemic
• Linum heterostylum C.M.Rogers, endemic
• Linum pungens Planch. endemic
• Linum quadrifolium L. endemic
• Linum thesioides Bartl. endemic
• Linum thunbergii Eckl. & Zeyh. indigenous
• Linum usitatissimum L. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised
• Linum villosum C.M.Rogers, endemic

Family:Malpighiaceae,^[7]

GenusAcridocarpus:^[7]

• Acridocarpus natalitius A.Juss. indigenous
  • Acridocarpus natalitius A.Juss. var.linearifolius Launert, indigenous
  • Acridocarpus natalitius A.Juss. var.natalitius, indigenous

GenusSphedamnocarpus:^[7]

• Sphedamnocarpus pruriens (A.Juss.) Szyszyl. indigenous
  • Sphedamnocarpus pruriens (A.Juss.) Szyszyl. subsp.galphimiifolius (A.Juss.) P.D.de Villiers & D.J.B, indigenous
  • Sphedamnocarpus pruriens (A.Juss.) Szyszyl. subsp.pruriens, indigenous
• Sphedamnocarpus transvalicus (Kuntze) Burtt Davy, accepted asSphedamnocarpus pruriens (A.Juss.) Szyszyl. subsp.galphimiifolius (A.Juss.) P.D.de Villiers & D.J.B, present

GenusTriaspis:^[7]

• Triaspis glaucophylla Engl. endemic
  • Triaspis hypericoides (DC.) Burch. indigenous
  • Triaspis hypericoides (DC.) Burch. subsp.canescens (Engl.) Immelman, indigenous
  • Triaspis hypericoides (DC.) Burch. subsp.hypericoides, indigenous
  • Triaspis hypericoides (DC.) Burch. subsp.nelsonii (Oliv.) Immelman, indigenous

Family:Ochnaceae,^[7]

GenusBrackenridgea:^[7]

• Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv. indigenous

GenusOchna:^[7]

• Ochna arborea Burch. ex DC. indigenous
  • Ochna arborea Burch. ex DC. var.arborea, indigenous
  • Ochna arborea Burch. ex DC. var.oconnorii (E.Phillips) Du Toit, indigenous
• Ochna barbosae N.Robson, indigenous
• Ochna confusa Burtt Davy & Greenway, indigenous
• Ochna gamostigmata du Toit, indigenous
• Ochna glauca I.Verd. indigenous
• Ochna holstii Engl. indigenous
• Ochna inermis (Forssk.) Schweinf. indigenous
• Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. indigenous
• Ochna pretoriensis E.Phillips, indigenous
• Ochna pulchra Hook.f. indigenous
• Ochna serrulata (Hochst.) Walp. indigenous

Family:Passifloraceae,^[7]

GenusAdenia:^[7]

• Adenia digitata (Harv.) Engl. indigenous
• Adenia fruticosa Burtt Davy, indigenous
  • Adenia fruticosa Burtt Davy subsp.fruticosa, endemic
  • Adenia fruticosa Burtt Davy subsp.simplicifolia W.J.de Wilde, indigenous
  • Adenia fruticosa Burtt Davy subsp.trifoliata W.J.de Wilde, endemic
• Adenia glauca Schinz, indigenous
• Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms, indigenous
• Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms var.gummifera, indigenous
• Adenia hastata (Harv.) Schinz, indigenous
  • Adenia hastata (Harv.) Schinz var.glandulifera W.J.de Wilde, indigenous
  • Adenia hastata (Harv.) Schinz var.hastata, indigenous
• Adenia natalensis W.J.de Wilde, endemic
• Adenia repanda (Burch.) Engl. indigenous
• Adenia spinosa Burtt Davy, indigenous
• Adenia wilmsii Harms, endemic

GenusBasananthe:^[7]

• Basananthe pedata (Baker f.) W.J.de Wilde, indigenous
• Basananthe polygaloides (Hutch. & K.Pearce) W.J.de Wilde, endemic
• Basananthe sandersonii (Harv.) W.J.de Wilde, indigenous
• Basananthe triloba (Bolus) W.J.de Wilde, indigenous

GenusParopsia:^[7]

• Paropsia braunii Gilg, indigenous

GenusPassiflora:^[7]

• Passiflora caerulea L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Passiflora edulis Sims, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Passiflora foetida L. not indigenous, naturalised
• Passiflora manicata (Juss.) Pers. not indigenous, naturalised
• Passiflora mollissima (Kunth) L.H.Bailey, accepted asPassiflora tripartita Breiter var.mollissima (Kunth) Holm-Niels. & P.Jorg. not indigenous, naturalised
• Passiflora suberosa L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Passiflora subpeltata Ortega, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Passiflora tripartita Breiter var.mollissima (Kunth) Holm-Niels. & P.Jorg. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

GenusSchlechterina:^[7]

• Schlechterina mitostemmatoides Harms, indigenous

Family:Phyllanthaceae,^[7]

GenusAndrachne:^[7]

• Andrachne ovalis (E.Mey. ex Sond.) Mull.Arg. indigenous

GenusAntidesma:^[7]

• Antidesma venosum E.Mey. ex Tul. indigenous

GenusBridelia:^[7]

• Bridelia cathartica G.Bertol. indigenous
  • Bridelia cathartica G.Bertol. subsp.cathartica, indigenous
  • Bridelia cathartica G.Bertol. var.melanthesoides formamelanthesoides, indigenous
• Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. indigenous
• Bridelia mollis Hutch. indigenous

GenusCleistanthus:^[7]

• Cleistanthus schlechteri (Pax) Hutch. indigenous
  • Cleistanthus schlechteri (Pax) Hutch. var.schlechteri, indigenous

GenusFlueggea:^[7]

• Flueggea verrucosa (Thunb.) G.L.Webster, endemic
• Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Voigt, indigenous
  • Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Voigt subsp.virosa, indigenous

GenusHeywoodia:^[7]

• Heywoodia lucens Sim, indigenous

GenusHymenocardia:^[7]

• Hymenocardia ulmoides Oliv. indigenous
  • Hymenocardia ulmoides Oliv. var.capensis Pax, accepted asHymenocardia ulmoides Oliv. indigenous

GenusLachnostylis:^[7]

• Lachnostylis bilocularis R.A.Dyer, endemic
• Lachnostylis hanekomii R.H.Archer & J.C.Manning, endemic
• Lachnostylis hirta (L.f.) Mull.Arg. endemic

GenusMargaritaria:^[7]

• Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) G.L.Webster, indigenous
  • Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) G.L.Webster var.fagifolia (Pax) Radcl.-Sm. indigenous
  • Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) G.L.Webster var.nitida (Pax) Radcl.-Sm. indigenous

GenusPhyllanthus:^[7]

• Phyllanthus asperulatus Hutch. indigenous
• Phyllanthus burchellii Mull.Arg. accepted asPhyllanthus parvulus Sond. var.garipensis (E.Mey. ex Drege) Radcl.-Sm. present
• Phyllanthus cedrelifolius I.Verd. accepted asPhyllanthus polyanthus Pax, present
• Phyllanthus delagoensis Hutch. indigenous
• Phyllanthus fraternus G.L.Webster, not indigenous, naturalised
• Phyllanthus genistoides Sond. accepted asPhyllanthus incurvus Thunb. present
• Phyllanthus glaucophyllus Sond. indigenous
• Phyllanthus graminicola Hutch. ex S.Moore, indigenous
• Phyllanthus heterophyllus E.Mey. ex Mull.Arg. indigenous
• Phyllanthus incurvus Thunb. indigenous
• Phyllanthus loandensis Welw. ex Mull.Arg. indigenous
• Phyllanthus macranthus Pax, indigenous
  • Phyllanthus macranthus Pax var.macranthus, indigenous
• Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L. indigenous
• Phyllanthus meyerianus Mull.Arg. indigenous
• Phyllanthus myrtaceus Sond. indigenous
• Phyllanthus nummulariifolius Poir. indigenous
  • Phyllanthus nummulariifolius Poir. var.nummulariifolius, indigenous
• Phyllanthus omahakensis Dinter & Pax, indigenous
• Phyllanthus parvulus Sond. indigenous
  • Phyllanthus parvulus Sond. var.garipensis (E.Mey. ex Drege) Radcl.-Sm. indigenous
  • Phyllanthus parvulus Sond. var.parvulus, indigenous
• Phyllanthus pentandrus Schumach. & Thonn. indigenous
• Phyllanthus pinnatus (Wight) G.L.Webster, indigenous
• Phyllanthus polyanthus Pax, indigenous
• Phyllanthus polyspermus Schumach. indigenous
• Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. indigenous
  • Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. var.reticulatus, indigenous
• Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. var.garipensis (E.Mey. ex Drege) Mull.Arg. accepted asPhyllanthus parvulus Sond. var.garipensis (E.Mey. ex Drege) Radcl.-Sm. present

GenusPseudolachnostylis:^[7]

• Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax, indigenous
  • Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax var.dekindtii (Pax) Radcl.-Sm. indigenous
  • Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax var.glabra (Pax) Brenan, indigenous

Family:Picrodendraceae,^[7]

GenusAndrostachys:^[7]

• Androstachys johnsonii Prain, indigenous

GenusHyaenanche:^[7]

• Hyaenanche globosa (Gaertn.) Lamb. & Vahl, endemic

Family:Podostemaceae,^[7]

GenusLeiothylax:^[7]

• Leiothylax warmingii (Engl.) Warm. accepted asLetestuella tisserantii G.Taylor

GenusSphaerothylax:^[7]

• Sphaerothylax algiformis Bisch. ex C.Krauss, indigenous

GenusTristicha:^[7]

• Tristicha trifaria (Bory ex Willd.) Spreng. indigenous
• Tristicha trifaria (Bory ex Willd.) Spreng. subsp.trifaria, indigenous

Family:Putranjivaceae,^[7]

GenusDrypetes:^[7]

• Drypetes arguta (Mull.Arg.) Hutch. indigenous
• Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. indigenous
  • Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. var.gerrardii, indigenous
  • Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. var.tomentosa Radcl.-Sm. indigenous
• Drypetes mossambicensis Hutch. indigenous
• Drypetes natalensis (Harv.) Hutch. indigenous
  • Drypetes natalensis (Harv.) Hutch. var.natalensis, indigenous
• Drypetes reticulata Pax, indigenous

Family:Rhizophoraceae,^[7]

GenusBruguiera:^[7]

• Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. indigenous

GenusCassipourea:^[7]

• Cassipourea flanaganii (Schinz) Alston, endemic
• Cassipourea gerrardii (Schinz) Alston, accepted asCassipourea malosana (Baker) Alston, present
• Cassipourea gummiflua Tul. indigenous
  • Cassipourea gummiflua Tul. var.verticillata (N.E.Br.) J.Lewis, indigenous
• Cassipourea malosana (Baker) Alston, indigenous
• Cassipourea mossambicensis (Brehmer) Alston, indigenous
• Cassipourea swaziensis Compton, indigenous

GenusCeriops:^[7]

• Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B.Rob. indigenous

GenusRhizophora:^[7]

• Rhizophora mucronata Lam. indigenous

Family:Salicaceae,^[7]

GenusCasearia:^[7]

• Casearia gladiiformis Mast. indigenous

GenusDovyalis:^[7]

• Dovyalis caffra (Hook.f. & Harv.) Warb. indigenous
• Dovyalis longispina (Harv.) Warb. indigenous
• Dovyalis lucida Sim, indigenous
• Dovyalis revoluta J.E.Thom, accepted asDovyalis zeyheri (Sond.) Warb. present
• Dovyalis rhamnoides (Burch. ex DC.) Burch. & Harv. indigenous
• Dovyalis rotundifolia (Thunb.) Thunb. & Harv. endemic
• Dovyalis zeyheri (Sond.) Warb. indigenous

GenusFlacourtia:^[7]

• Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. indigenous

GenusHomalium:^[7]

• Homalium dentatum (Harv.) Warb. indigenous
• Homalium rufescens Benth. endemic
• Homalium subsuperum Sprague, accepted asHomalium dentatum (Harv.) Warb. present

GenusOncoba:^[7]

• Oncoba spinosa Forssk. indigenous
  • Oncoba spinosa Forssk. subsp.spinosa, indigenous

GenusPopulus:^[7]

• Populus alba L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Populus alba L. var.alba, not indigenous, naturalised
• Populus canescens (Aiton) Sm. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marshall subsp.deltoides, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Populus nigra L. not indigenous, naturalised
  • Populus nigra L. var.italica Munchh. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

GenusPseudoscolopia:^[7]

• Pseudoscolopia polyantha Gilg, endemic

GenusSalix:^[7]

• Salix babylonica L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
  • Salix babylonica L. var.babylonica, not indigenous, naturalised
• Salix caprea L. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive
• Salix mucronata Thunb. indigenous
  • Salix mucronata Thunb. subsp.capensis (Thunb.) Immelman, accepted asSalix mucronata Thunb. subsp.mucronata, present
  • Salix mucronata Thunb. subsp.hirsuta (Thunb.) Immelman, endemic
  • Salix mucronata Thunb. subsp.mucronata, indigenous
  • Salix mucronata Thunb. subsp.wilmsii (Seemen) Immelman, accepted asSalix mucronata Thunb. subsp.woodii (Seemen) Immelman, present
  • Salix mucronata Thunb. subsp.woodii (Seemen) Immelman, indigenous
• Salix subserrata Willd. accepted asSalix mucronata Thunb. subsp.subserrata (Willd.) R.H.Archer & Jordaan
• Salix x fragilis L. var.fragilis, not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

GenusScolopia:^[7]

• Scolopia flanaganii (Bolus) Sim, endemic
• Scolopia mundii (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Warb. indigenous
• Scolopia oreophila (Sleumer) Killick, endemic
• Scolopia stolzii Gilg & Sleumer, indigenous
  • Scolopia stolzii Gilg & Sleumer var.stolzii, indigenous
• Scolopia zeyheri (Nees) Harv. indigenous

GenusTrimeria:^[7]

• Trimeria grandifolia (Hochst.) Warb. indigenous
  • Trimeria grandifolia (Hochst.) Warb. subsp.grandifolia, indigenous
• Trimeria trinervis Harv. endemic

Family:Turneraceae,^[7]

GenusAfroqueta:^[7]

• Afroqueta capensis (Harv.) Thulin & Razafim. indigenous

GenusPiriqueta:^[7]

• Piriqueta capensis (Harv.) Urb. accepted asAfroqueta capensis (Harv.) Thulin & Razafim. indigenous

GenusStreptopetalum:^[7]

• Streptopetalum serratum Hochst. indigenous

GenusTricliceras:^[7]

• Tricliceras glanduliferum (Klotzsch) R.Fern. indigenous
• Tricliceras laceratum (Oberm.) Oberm. indigenous
• Tricliceras longepedunculatum (Mast.) R.Fern. indigenous
  • Tricliceras longepedunculatum (Mast.) R.Fern. var.longepedunculatum, indigenous
• Tricliceras mossambicense (A.Fern. & R.Fern.) R.Fern. indigenous
• Tricliceras schinzii (Urb.) R.Fern. indigenous
  • Tricliceras schinzii (Urb.) R.Fern. subsp.schinzii var.juttae, indigenous
• Tricliceras tanacetifolium (Klotzsch) R.Fern. indigenous

Family:Violaceae,^[7]

GenusHybanthus:^[7]

• Hybanthus capensis (Thunb.) Engl. indigenous
• Hybanthus densifolius Engl. indigenous
• Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. not indigenous, naturalised
  • Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. var.caffer (Sond.) N.Robson, not indigenous, naturalised
  • Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. var.enneaspermus, not indigenous, naturalised
  • Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F.Muell. var.serratus Engl. not indigenous, naturalised
• Hybanthus parviflorus (L.f.) Baill. not indigenous, naturalised

GenusRinorea:^[7]

• Rinorea angustifolia (Thouars) Baill. indigenous
  • Rinorea angustifolia (Thouars) Baill. subsp.natalensis (Engl.) Grey-Wilson, indigenous
• Rinorea domatiosa A.E.van Wyk, endemic
• Rinorea ilicifolia (Welw. ex Oliv.) Kuntze, indigenous
  • Rinorea ilicifolia (Welw. ex Oliv.) Kuntze subsp.ilicifolia, indigenous
  • Rinorea ilicifolia (Welw. ex Oliv.) Kuntze subsp.ilicifolia var.ilicifolia, indigenous

GenusViola:^[7]

• Viola abyssinica Steud. ex Oliv. indigenous
• Viola arvensis Murray, not indigenous, naturalised
• Viola decumbens L.f. indigenous
  • Viola decumbens L.f. var.decumbens, endemic
  • Viola decumbens L.f. var.scrotiformis (DC.) Jessop, endemic
• Viola hederacea Labill. not indigenous, naturalised
• Viola priceana Pollard, not indigenous, naturalised
• Viola tricolor L. not indigenous, naturalised

• South African plant biodiversity lists
• Malpighiales

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2022