Lebogang Mokwatsi loves walking in nature, but she also loves knowing exactly what each plant is called. She hails from Mahikeng in North West province where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Geography and Botany, followed by an Honours in Biology with a focus on Botany. Mokwatsi is currently placed with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens as an intern with a focus on plant taxonomy. Her work involves contributing to the “Thesium project”, focussing on the taxonomy and ecology of the genus, as well as the curation of these flowering species which grow in arid to semi-arid areas. 

We asked her a few questions to find out more about her work, studies and inspirations:    

What are you passionate about?   

I'm passionate about taxonomy, particularly studying plant identification, classification and nomenclature. I find it interesting to learn about different plant species groups and their uses.  

What inspired your choice of study?  

My uncle guided me towards environmental science, but my third-year introduction to taxonomy and my supervisor during my postgraduate studies played a significant role in fostering my passion for taxonomy. Her expertise and enthusiasm for plant taxonomy revealed the importance of understanding biodiversity and conservation.  

What excites you about your internship?  

I’m thrilled to gain hands-on experience in curation, fieldwork and taxonomic revisions at SANBI, as well as forging professional relationships with experts in different fields of taxonomy.   

What are your expectations of this internship?  

I aim to deepen my taxonomic skills and contribute to plant records such as creating diagnostic keys for Thesium. I also expect to gain hands-on experience in plant taxonomy, specifically curation skills in a national herbarium and identification of plant species.   

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive?  

Plant taxonomy, with a focus on nomenclature, enables universal communication about specific plant species. Classification helps us understand the hierarchical relationships between plants, facilitating understanding of their characteristics. Through taxonomic revision of a certain group, we can determine its uses, such as ornamental or medicinal purposes, and can develop distribution maps which help us determine a species' diversity and ecological requirements.  

Who inspires you most and why?  

My uncle inspired my educational path and encouraged me to pursue my studies and showed me the importance of following through with learning to achieve my goals. My supervisor then ignited my love for taxonomy.