Butterfly Tree - KaNgwane

KaNgwane was the least populous and second smallest in size of the 10 Bantustans created by the South African government. The Bantustan was established in 1976 as a homeland for the Swazi people, a Bantu ethnic group predominately residing in Eswatini. Two of KaNgwane’s 3 enclaves shared their border with Eswatini.

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Colophospermum mopane - The butterfly tree is a member of the Fabaceae family, the bean family. The tree, also referred to as the mopane, balsam, and turpentine tree, is native to the northern regions of Southern Africa. The bifoliate leaves resemble a butterfly with open wings. Mature heights varies between 5 and 20 meters, a factor dependent on the soil mixture being alkaline or alluvial. The wood has a reddish tint, is termite resistant, and difficult to work by hand. The wood’s density makes it one of South Africa’s heaviest hardwood trees.

Peanuts - Paraguay

Arachis hypogaea - Peanuts were first cultivated in Paraguay. Although it is referred to as a nut, it is a legume. Until the 1930’s, peanuts were generally grown for use as animal fodder, but now it is cultivated primarily for human consumption in the form of peanut oil, flour, and peanut butter. Peanuts prefer a light sandy soil. The pods ripen between 120 to 150 days. Harvesting too soon will result in unripened pods, harvesting too late will result in the pods breaking off and remaining buried.

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The Gran Chaco is a region in South America covering 647,000 square kilometers, an area distributed over four countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. The name is based on the Quechua term “chaku,” a term translating as “hunting land.” The landscape is flat and features a semi-arid climate. The Gran Chaco region has a sparse population of about 9 million people; Paraguay’s share is about 100,000 inhabitants. Argentina and Bolivia have a province or autonomous region named for the area.

Red Clover - Ireland

Trifolium pratense - Red clover belongs to the Fabaceae family, the bean family. It is native to Europe, but cultivated throughout the world as a forage plant for livestock and poultry. It is an effective plant used in crop rotation; the red clover helps to restore nitrogen depleted soil. Red clover flowers from May to September and contributes to maintaining bee populations by producing abundant sources of nectar and pollen. Butterflies and other pollinating insects are also drawn to the plant.

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King Henry VIII sought to regain control of Ireland in 1536, and by 1542, had himself crowned as king of Ireland. The Acts of Union, passed in 1800, incorporated Ireland into the United Kingdom. Ireland remained under British domination until 1922, when the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, granting home rule to Ireland; Great Britain retained six counties as Northern Ireland. In 1949, Ireland formally became a republic, a move to end the constitutional role of the British monarchy in Irish affairs.

Desert Cassia - British Virgin Islands

Salt Island was once a regular stopping point for ships sailing along the trade routes of the Caribbean. Passing ships would load the salt harvested from the island’s evaporation pond as a way of preserving the perishable foods sustaining the crews on their long voyages. The island fell into disuse with the advent of refrigeration.

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Senna polyphylla - The desert cassia is a evergreen species found in the limestone scrub areas of Anegada, one of several islands of the British Virgin Islands. It is a colorful shrub growing no taller than 4 meters. The fragrant yellow flowers of a mature plant bloom year round and provide a rich source of food for bees and butterflies. The fruits are contained in small legume pods. Most of the 50 species contained in the Senna genus are native to the tropic and include herbs, shrubs, and trees. The desert cassia is part of the pea family.