Members of the Lowveld branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa gathered at the Lowveld National Botanical Garden on Sunday morning, January 28, to spend some time spotting Ficus Ingen trees and sharing information thereof.

They were led by Stephen Mallory.

Ficus Ingens are fig-like bearing trees with an extensive range in the subtropical to dry tropical regions of Africa and southern Arabia.
The Lowveld National Botanical Garden has a variety of such trees.

This group of flora enthusiasts are an active branch that spends as much time as possible out in the veld. They hold monthly meetings that involve interacting with local plant specialists and hiking unknown areas, looking for unusual and interesting plants.

What drives them is keeping up to date with local conservation, building projects within the Lowveld National Botanical Garden and discovering the wonders of its unique flora.

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The Lowveld branch chairperson, Frank Webb, said the society has contributed to the conservation of many national botanical gardens in South Africa and continues to do so.

One of the branch’s noted projects is the three wooden arches, also called the ‘Singapore Sling’ in the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, that have become centrepieces in the garden.

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Visitors to the garden can enjoy a new photo opportunity at these leafy arches. They were inspired by those in the Singapore Botanic Garden and were brought to life by Mallory and Wendy Williams.