BOTANIST IN BLOOM

Award-winning botanist Zaynab Shaik tells us about her plant species discovery, why plants are just as interesting as animals and the one time her research took her a little too close to the cliff edge...

- BY CHRISTI NORTIER

The Kgalagadi, Addo Elephant Park, Cape Point... name the national park, and Zaynab’s been there. With a dad that worked for South African National Parks, it was only natural that many holidays were spent travelling far and wide, visiting a number of South Africa's iconic nature reserves. But her true love was close to home in Cape Town: fynbos. While still a botany student, she discovered a new, once-overlooked species of fynbos. She was awarded the Best Young Botanist award by her peers at the SA Association of Botanists in 2020 and now guides masters students through their own research at the University of Stellenbosch. When she's not teaching at the university, you'll find her in the lab analysing plant DNA or out in the mountains collecting specimens. We asked her about the day in the life of a botanist...

WHY DO YOU FIND PLANTS INTERESTING?

The diversity in plants is spectacular. They also create amazing environments, such as deserts and forests, which are made up of different kinds of plants. There are over 9 000 plant species in the Cape Floral Kingdom alone. I am fascinated by how each kind has adapted to its environment in its own special way, from the different flowers to even eating insects. Plants are just as interesting as animals.

WHAT DOES THE AVERAGE WORKDAY LOOK LIKE FOR A BOTANIST?