PhD Project

This study is a quantitative ethnobotanical survey of all ethnobotanical plants in Namaqualand, both the Little Namaqualand in South Africa and the Great Namaqualand in Namibia. This area is known for its spectacular flower fields in spring (Aug- Sept), its rich and unique plant diversity with more than 3000 plant species and large numbers of endemism. The area was the original home of the Nama people, the largest division of the Khoi (pastoral nomadic) people. The paucity of scientifically accurate data on Khoi-San ethnobotany i.e. traditional plant use by the endemic, click-speaking peoples of southern Africa, has been pointed out repeatedly in review papers. The Matrix Method will be used to quantify the ethnobotanical knowledge. The quantitative data can be used to compare levels of knowledge and main patterns of plant species usage between the different bioregions in Little Namaqualand (Knersvlakte, Sandveld, Hardeveld and Richtersveld), the surrounding settlements, communities in the Great Namaqualand and similar ethnobotanical studies in South Africa and globally. Chemical analyses on selected medicinal plant species and nutritional analyses on selected edible plants will be also be conducted. The results will lead to a better understanding of one of the most ancient cultures on earth and will make a unique and long-lasting contribution to the existing body of knowledge of Khoi-San ethnobotany.

Awards

• 2015 IPUF/SEB Conference: Best paper presentation by a young scientist
• 2009 University of Pretoria: Best academic record, final year botany student: MargarethaMes Memorial Prize

Publications

Nortje, J.M.,Van Wyk, B.-E., 2015. Medicinal ethnobotany of the Kamiesberg: Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of ethnopharmacology. (Submitted)

Conference contributions

Nortje, J.M., Van Wyk, B.-E. 2015. "Medicinal ethnobotany of the Kamiesberg, Namaqualand". (Lecture: 18th Conference of the Indigenous Plant Use Forum joint with the 56th Conference of the Society for Economic Botany (SEB), Clanwilliam, South Africa, 28 June-02 July 2015).(award: Best presentation by a young scientist)

Nortje, J.M., Van Wyk, B.-E. 2011. Medicinal plants of the Kamiesberg. (lecture: 14th Conference of the Indigenous Plant Use Forum, St Lucia, South Africa, 4-7 July 2011).

Nortje, J.M.,Van Wyk, B.E. 2011. The ethnobotany of Namaqualand. (lecture: 37th Congress of the South African Association of Botanists, Grahamstown, South Africa, 11-15 January 2010).

Nortje, J.M.,Van Wyk, B.E. 2010. The ethnobotany of Namaqualand. (lecture: 13th Conference of the Indigenous Plant Use Forum, Keimoes, South Africa, 28 June - 1 July 2011) .

Van der Hout, J.M., Meier, J.M.M. 2010. The effect of water stress on the concentration artemisinin and other metabolites obtained from Artemisia annua L. (poster: 36 th Congress of the South African Association of Botanists, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 11-15 January 2010).