Prof. Braam (AE) van Wyk

Professor Plant Science
Section: Plant Diversity

Office: Plant Sciences Complex 2-37
Tel:  +27 (0)12 420 2545/ 4784/ 5843
Fax: +27 (0)12 420 2057

Email: braam.vanwyk[AT]up.ac.za

Professor (Louis Botha Chair)
Curator of HGWJ Schweickerdt Herbarium
University of Pretoria

Prof. A.E. [Braam] van Wyk is a plant taxonomist trained at Potchefstroom University for C.H.E. and the University of Pretoria. He did his masters and doctoral degrees on the classification of the genus Eugenia (Myrtaceae) in southern Africa. Prof. Van Wyk is responsible for most undergraduate and all graduate teaching in plant taxonomy/systematics and has been on the staff of the Department since 1977. His research interest covers a wide spectrum of taxonomic groups, including Myrtaceae, Celastraceae, Icacinaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Araceae and some of the endemic southern African families. Floristic work is mainly focused in KwaZulu-Natal, Pondoland, Maputaland (including southern Mozambique), Sekhukhuneland and the north-eastern Drakensberg Escarpment. Students are also involved in ethnobotanical surveys and studies on the horticultural/agricultural potential of the southern African flora. Comparative data from all sources is considered, with particular emphasis on morphology, anatomy, palynology, embryology, reproductive biology and biogeography. Most projects are linked to the training of postgraduate students for either masters or doctoral degrees. He has authored or co-authored more than 350 publications on the botany of southern Africa, including several books. Prof. Van Wyk has received the Silver Medal for Botany from the South African Association of Botanists, Allen Dyer Award from the Succulent Society of South Africa, Havenga Prize for Life Sciences from the South African Academy for Science and Arts and the Exceptional Academic Achiever Award from the University of Pretoria. Prof. Van Wyk enjoys making biology accessible to the public and has participated in a weekly science programme on radio for the past 18 years.

Courses 2012:

BOT 251 Southern African flora and vegetation
BOT 366 Plant diversity
BOT 741 Plant taxonomy
BOT 742 Plant classification
ZEN 809 Biogeography and macro ecology

Recent publications:

  • MAURIN, O., VAN WYK, A.E., JORDAAN, M. & VAN DER BANK, M. 2011. A new species of Combretum section Ciliatipetala (Combretaceae) from southern Africa, with a key to the regional members of the section. South African Journal of Botany 77(1): 105–111.
  • VERSTRAETE, B., VAN ELST, D., STEYN, H., VAN WYK, B. [A.E.], LEMAIRE, B., SMETS, E. & DESSEIN, S. 2011. Endophytic bacteria in toxic South African plants: identification, phylogeny and possible involvement in gousiekte. PLoS ONE 6(4): e19265. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019265
  • VAN ROOY, J. & VAN WYK, A.E. 2011. The bryofloristic elements of southern Africa. Journal of Bryology 33(1): 17–29.
  • JORDAAN, M., VAN WYK, A.E. & MAURIN, O. 2011. A conspectus of Combretum (Combretaceae) in southern Africa, with taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on species and sections. Bothalia 41(1): 135–160.
  • JORDAAN, M., VAN WYK, A.E. & MAURIN, O. 2011. Generic status of Quisqualis (Combretaceae). with notes on the taxonomy and distribution of Q. parviflora. Bothalia 41(1): 161–169.
  • KLOPPER, R.R. & VAN WYK, A.E. 2011. Pteridophyta−Sinopteridaceae. A new subspecies of Cheilanthes deltoidea from Gauteng and Limpopo, South Africa. Bothalia 41(1): 204–207.
  • VAN WYK, A.E. 2011. Foreword. In: Grace, O.M., Klopper, R.R., Fiqueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F., The aloe names book, p. vii. Strelitzia 28. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • VAN WYK, B. [A.E.], VAN DEN BERG, E., COATES PALGRAVE, M., JORDAAN, M. 2011. Dictionary of names for southern African trees. Scientific names of indigenous trees, shrubs and climbers with common names from 30 languages. Briza Academic Books, Briza Publications, Pretoria, 956 pp. ISBN 978 1 920146 01 6.
  • VOSA, C.G., VAN WYK, A.E., SIEBERT, S.J. & CONDY, G. 2011. Prototulbaghia siebertii (Plate 2264) (Alliaceae). Flowering Plants of Africa 62: 22–28.
  • VAN JAARSVELD, E.J., VAN WYK, A.E. & LOEDOLFF, J. 2011. Jensenobotrya lossowiana (Plate 2270) (Mesembryanthemaceae). Flowering Plants of Africa 62: 64–69.
  • COETZER, L.A., VAN WYK, A.E. & BUITENDAG, E. 2011. Tylosema fassoglense (Plate 2271) (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae). Flowering Plants of Africa 62: 70–79.
  • VAN JAARSVELD, E.J., SWANEPOEL, W., VAN WYK, A.E. & THOMAS, V. 2011. Plumbago hunsbergensis (Plate 2273) (Plumbaginaceae). Flowering Plants of Africa 62: 88–93.
  • MOORE, G., SMITH, G.F., FIGUEIREDO, E., DEMISSEW, S., LEWIS, G., SCHRIRE, B., RICO, L., VAN WYK, A.E., LUCKOW, M., KIESLING, R. & MARIO SOUSA, S. 2011. The Acacia controversy resulting from minority rule at the Vienna Nomenclature Section: much more than arcane arguments and complex technicalities. Taxon 60(3): 852–857.
  • VOSA, C.G., SIEBERT, S.J. & VAN WYK, A.E. 2011. Alliaceae: micromorphology and cytology of Prototulbaghia siebertii, with notes on its taxonomic significance. Bothalia 41(2): 311–314.
  • TRYTSMAN, M., VAN WYK, A.E. & MASEMOLA, E.L. 2011. Systematics, diversity and forage value of indigenous legumes of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. African Journal of Biotechnology 10(63): 13773–13779.
  • LEMAIRE, B., ROBBRECHT, E., VAN WYK, B. [A.E.], VAN OEVELEN, S., VERSTRAETE, B., PRINSEN, E., SMETS, E. & DESSEIN, S. 2011. Identification, origin and evolution of leaf nodulating symbionts of Sericanthe (Rubiaceae). The Journal of Microbiology 49(6): 935–941.
  • HUGO, S., VAN RENSBURG, B.J., VAN WYK, A.E. & STEENKAMP, Y. 2012. Alien phytogeographic regions of southern Africa: numerical classification, possible drivers, and regional threats. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36269. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036269
  • TILNEY, P.M., VAN WYK, A.E. & VAN DER MERWE, C.F. 2012. Structural evidence in Plectroniella armata (Rubiaceae) for possible material exchange between domatia and mites. PLoS ONE 7(7): e39984. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039984

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