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Commercialisation of Cyclopia genistoides – a story that originated at the foot of Table Mountain

In memory of Anthony Hitchcock who passed away, aged 60, on 7 July 2020

Anthony Hitchcock was a passionate botanist, horticulturist and plant restoration specialist, a highly acclaimed fynbos expert who led various plant restoration projects in the Western Cape. Environmental writer John Yeld describes him as a 'fynbos legend' in a Daily Maverick tribute.

In January 1991, overseeing the nursery and threatened species programme at SANBI, Anthony Hitchcock collected seed from a C. genistoides population against the slopes of Kalkbaai mountain at the top of the Spes Bona forest, near Cape Town.

Later in 1992, Dr Hannes de Lange noticed a specifically beautiful and dense C. genistoides bush in full bloom next to a bench in the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and he collected some of the seed. Shortly thereafter, however, De Lange discovered its West Coast eco-type of 1.5 to 2 metres in height in the Darling area and the Kirstenbosch plant was forgotten. The West Coast eco-type C. genistoides, together with numerous other Cyclopia species, were then established in many small-scale trial plantings on farms in the Western and Eastern Cape. However, the West Coast eco-type C. genistoides failed the test completely for potential cultivation due to its very thick stems, loss of leaves during unfavourable climate conditions and a very low leave-to-stem ratio.

At this stage, it was realised that the Kirstenbosch-type C. genistoides has an ideal growth habit with a high leaf-to-stem ratio, and seedlings were grown and distributed to farmers. In August 1994, shortly after Van Zyl Joubert and his family moved to the farm, Toekomst, near Bredasdorp, various Cyclopia seedlings, including that of the Kirstenbosch-type C. genistoides, were delivered to them. A success story followed, with the effective commercialisation of this unique C. genistoides.

The late Anthony Hitchcock, who was a highly acclaimed fynbos expert, contributed to the cultivation and commercialisation of C. genistoides. Photo by John Yeld.

In 2008, it was decided that the origin of this Kirstenbosch plant should be determined. With the assistance of botanist Ernst van Jaarsveld, Hitchcock's collections of 1991 were found in the acquisition list of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, No. 0007/91. In December 2008, Dr Hannes de Lange visited this population and confirmed it as family of the Kirstenbosch-type C. genistoides.

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The renowned C. genistoides bush at the foot of Table Mountain in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo supplied by Hannes de Lange.