Why do French (Genista monspessulana) and Spanish brooms (Spartium junceum) not sweep across South Africa?

Experimental control of Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) invading natural grasslands

A group of legumes generically known as brooms are among the most successful shrubs invading grasslands in South America and other regions. These species share a set of biological features that enhance their invasiveness, such as abundant and long-lasting seed banks, aggressive root systems and rapid growth, combined with their ability for re-sprouting after cutting or burning and for avoiding ...

Sparticarpin: A Pterocarpan Phytoalexin from Spartium junceum

Although pterocarpan phytoalexins commonly ac­ cumulate in the fungus-inoculated tissues of papilionate legumes, only three compounds of this type possess oxygenation at C-2 [1, 2]. They are 2,3,9-trimethoxypterocarpan (1), 2,9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxypterocarpan (2-methoxymedicarpin, 2) and 2,3,9-trimethoxy-4-hydroxypterocarpan (3) all of which co­ occur with pisatin in the Fusarium solani f. sp. p...

Why do families still not receive the child support grant in South Africa? A longitudinal analysis of a cohort of families across South Africa

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Child cash transfers are increasingly recognised for their potential to reduce poverty and improve health outcomes. South Africa's child support grant (CSG) constitutes the largest cash transfer in the continent. No studies have been conducted to look at factors associated with successful receipt of the CSG. This paper reports findings on factors associated with CSG rec...

Do only new brooms sweep clean? A review on workforce age and innovation

Why do women not return for CD4 count results at Embhuleni Hospital, Mpumalanga, South Africa?

BACKGROUND According to the South African Policy and guidelines for the implementation of the PMTCT programme of 2008, all pregnant women who tested HIV-positive also had to have their CD4 count measured in order to inform the option of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Treatment (PMTCT): to be put on lifelong treatment or to be placed on temporary PMTCT. They were required to return for the result...