FIELD GUIDE FOR WILD FLOWER HARVESTING Introducing The Pocket Field Guide ’s for Wild Flower Harvesting

Many people in the earn a living from the region’s wild flowers, South Africa has a significant number of indigenous (or native) : known as . Some pick flowers for markets to sell, some remove invasive about 20,000 in total. The Red List of South African Plants (http://redlist. alien plants, and others are involved in conservation and nature tourism. It sanbi.org/redcat.php) tells us which of these species are under threat. is important that people who work in the veld know about fynbos plants. About three quarters (or 75%) of South Africa’s threatened plants live in the This Pocket Field Guide for Wild Flower Harvesting describes 41 of the Fynbos . most popular types of fynbos plants that are picked from our region for the wild flower market. It also provides useful information to support sustainable Fynbos is a type of vegetation or veld. The name comes from a Dutch word harvesting in particular and fynbos conservation in general. ‘fijnbosch’, meaning ‘fine bush’, and refers to how the plants look. Most fynbos plants have small (or fine) leaves and are (or bushes) rather Picking flowers has an effect or impact on the veld. If we are not careful, we can than trees. damage, or even kill, plants. So, before picking flowers, it is important to ask: The Fynbos Biome is a natural region that stretches from Vanrhynsdorp in • What can be picked? the west to Grahamstown in the east, in a 100 to 200 kilometre-wide strip • How much can be picked? along the coast. This region has a Mediterranean climate, with cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers. In most of the rest of South Africa, the rain • How should flowers be picked? falls in summer and the winters are dry. Fynbos plants have to be tough to This guide aims to help people understand: survive the long summer droughts. • the differences between the many types of fynbos plants Fynbos is predominantly found in nutrient poor, highly leached soils. This that grow in the veld; and is another characteristic of fynbos, as very few plants choose to live on such harsh soils. Fynbos has adapted to these soil conditions, allowing it to grow • which fynbos plants can be picked, and which are scarce in areas where many other plants cannot. and should rather be left in the veld. Fires are common in fynbos during the hot, dry, windy summers. In fact, This field guide is available in all three main languages of the , fynbos needs to burn every 15 years or so. Fire helps to renew the veld namely , English and isiXhosa. because it removes the old plants, and the smoke from the fire causes in the ground to germinate and grow into new plants. Fynbos plants are threatened by: • destruction of their habitat – due to urban, agricultural and industrial development; • the spread of invasive alien plants; • inappropriate agricultural practices; • unsustainable picking; • too frequent fires. Picking fynbos with care What are the Principles of Sustainable Harvesting?

Here are some things to think about: The Flower Valley Conservation Trust has worked with CapeNature, botanists, market experts and the fynbos industry over a period of ten years to develop • When fynbos flowers are removed from the veld, we prevent these the Sustainable Harvesting Programme (SHP). The SHP provides fynbos flowers from making seeds that will grow into new plants. This is why we harvesters and suppliers with an SHP Toolkit to help them pick fynbos in should always leave some flowers in the veld. a responsible manner. A key component of the Toolkit is The Sustainable • If we do not know which plants can be picked, we could pick rare Harvesting Programme Code of Best Practice for Wild Harvesters. species that are in danger of becoming extinct. • If we allow invasive alien plants to grow in the veld, they could shade The SHP Code of Best Practice for Wild Harvesters has four principles the fynbos plants beneath them, and stop them from growing. We should that protect the environment: remove these alien plants from the veld. 1. Conserve biodiversity • Because fynbos is so valuable, it is protected by law (including the 2. Use wild fynbos sustainably National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004). For 3. Comply with national and provincial regulations example, it is illegal to plough or clear fynbos veld that has never been cleared before (e.g. to plant another crop in its place). We need to know 4. Have a property management plan and respect the rules that protect fynbos. These principles are outlined in more detail in the accompanying • It is illegal to pick fynbos without the correct licences from the Field Guide for Wild Flower Harvesting. conservation authorities, such as CapeNature. These licences provide guidelines to help us look after the fynbos. Picking teams should follow the principles of good harvesting, as captured in the SHP, when picking flowers in the veld. The diagrams on the following Understanding how harvesting affects the veld helps us to look after the veld page illustrate some of the key principles. more effectively. After all, if we pick all the fynbos this year, there will be no fynbos to pick in the future. This can have a negative impact on livelihoods. Fynbos plants of the Agulhas Plain and beyond

The rest of this Pocket Field Guide for Wild Flower Harvesting describes 41 species (or types) of fynbos plants that grow on the Agulhas Plain. These species were selected as they are the most commonly harvested species. Many of these plants also grow in other parts of the Cape Floral Kingdom. They are all harvested for flowers or greens.

The Agulhas Plain is a . Many of the plants that grow here are vulnerable (at risk) because of invasive alien plants, urban and agricultural development, and harvesting. Many plants are endemic (unique) to the area. If they die out here, they cannot be replaced.

The 41 indigenous plant species belong to eight plant families. The plants are grouped first by their family in alphabetical order, starting with the and ending with the Rutaceae. They are then listed by their and species names, in alphabetical order.

Each plant species has a description and a photograph to help you recognise it in the veld. You will find out where each species is most likely to grow. You will also learn which species are common and can be harvested, and which are threatened and should be left in the veld. Plant descriptions and Key Plant descriptions and Key

Each of the plant descriptions includes: Red Data List: • A colour photograph of the flower; • Green label – this plant is common (least concern), so it may be • The name of the family to which the plant belongs; picked for the market, with the relevant CapeNature licences. • The scientific name of the plant (the genus and species); • Orange label – this species is declining. It can be picked with the relevant CapeNature licences. • Common names of the plant; • Orange label – this species is near threatened. It can be picked, with • The height of the plant; authorisation from CapeNature. • Where the plant grows; • Red label – this species is vulnerable. It can be picked, with • How the plant is used, authorisation from CapeNature. • Conservation information, as listed in the RedSouth List African of South Red ListAfrican categories Plants, which assesses the conservation status of South Africa’s entire flora. The Agulhas Plain, was the pilot site for the SHP. A Vulnerability Index (VI) Extinct (EX) has been developed which tells us the extent to which harvesting increases Extinct in the Wild (EW) the vulnerability of species found on the Agulhas Plain. Not all the species in this guide have this information. This is because some of these species are not South African Red List categories Regionally Extinct (RE) found naturally on the Agulhas Plain. However, they may be present and be Extinct (EX) Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct (CR PE) harvested if they have been artificially sown.

Extinct in the Wild (EW) Critically Endangered (CR) Threatened speciesThe VulnerabilitySpecies of Index scoring: conservation Regionally Extinct (RE) Endangered (EN) concern • 1 – 4: Common species; Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct (CR PE) Vulnerable (VU) • 5 – 6: Species that should be monitored; Near Threatened (NT) Critically Endangered (CR) Threatened species Species of • 7 – 8: Species that are a priority to monitor; Endangered (EN) Critically Rareconservation concern • 9 – 11: No-go species that should not be picked.

Vulnerable (VU) Increasing risk of extinction Rare

Near Threatened (NT) Declining The following refers to the Geographical Range where the species occurs: • Widespread means the plant occurs on more than 500km2 of land. Critically Rare Data Deficient – Insufficient Information (DDD) • Localised means the plant occurs on less than 500km2 of land.

Increasing risk of extinction Rare Data Deficient – Taxonomically Problematic (DDT)

Declining Least Concern (LC) The following refers to how abundant the species is: • Common means that the species occurs in dense populations within a Data Deficient – Insufficient Information (DDD) Extinct range greater than 500km2. Data Deficient – Taxonomically Problematic (DDT) Threatened Other categories of conservation concern • Localised means the species occurs in small, scattered groups over a range Least Concern (LC) 2 Other categories less than 500km .

Extinct Threatened Other categories of conservation concern Other categories A colour label to tell you if the plant is common or threatened, as per the Plant descriptions Plant descriptions

Family Genus & Species Family Genus & Species

1 Asteraceae prolifera 22 xanthoconus 2 Stoebe plumosa 23 cordifolium 3 vestita 24 Leucospermum truncatulum 4 abrotanoides 25 cucullatus 5 26 compacta 6 albiflora 27 7 Brunia laevis 28 8 Brunia noduliflora 29 9 radiata 30 10 coccinea 31 11 Erica imbricata 32 12 Erica plukenetii 33 13 Proteaceae umbellata 34 14 35 Protea sulphurea 15 16 Leucadendron linifolium 36 17 Leucadendron meridianum 37 insignis 18 Leucadendron muirii 38 Rhamnaceae Phylica ericoides 19 Leucadendron platyspermum 39 Rubiaceae Anthospermum aethiopicum 20 Leucadendron rubrum 40 Rutaceae Acmadenia heterophylla 21 Leucadendron salicifolium 41 Agathosma betulina

Plant attributes key Plant attributes key

Plant height Reproduction Usage Geographical range

Flowering season Where Conservation status Abundance Phaenocoma prolifera Berzelia abrotanoides Family: Asteraceae Species: prolifera Family: Bruniaceae Species: abrotanoides Genus: Phaenocoma Common name: Cape everlasting, Genus: Berzelia Common name: Bloed kol-kol Rooisewejaartjie, Strooiblommetjie

Cape Peninsula to Bredasdorp Clanwilliam to Port Elizabeth

1.2m Least concern 1.5m Least concern

September to March VI= 4 April to October VI= 4

Seeder, insects Widespread Seeder, insects Widespread and re-sprouter Dried industry Common Localised Fresh industry Stoebe plumosa Berzelia lanuginosa Family: Asteraceae Species: plumosa Family: Bruniaceae – the Brunia family Species: lanuginosa – meaning ‘woolly’ Genus: Stoebe Common name: Slangbos Genus: Berzelia Common name: Kol-kol

Cape Floristic Region Clanwilliam to Bredasdorp

1m Least concern 2m Least concern

April to June VI= 3 June to November VI= 6

Seeder, insects, wind Widespread Seeder, insects Widespread

Fresh and dried Common Fresh industry Localised industies, medicine Syncarpha vestita Syncarpha Berzelia albiflora Family: Asteraceae Species: vestita Family: Bruniaceae Species: albiflora Genus: Syncarpha Common name: Sewejaartjie, Strooiblommetjie, Genus: Berzelia Common name: Knopbossie, Koffiebossie, Matras Sewejaartjie Stompies, Coffee-scented Brunia

Cape Peninsula to George Hottentots Holland to the Klein River Mountains 90cm Dried industry 3m Fresh industry November to Least concern January March, April Least concern VI=5 Seeder, insects Seeder, insects Brunia laevisBrunia coccinea Erica Family: Bruniaceae – the Brunia family Species: laevis – meaning ‘smooth’ Family: Ericaceae Species: coccinea Genus: Brunia Common name: Silver Brunia Genus: Erica Common name: Hangertjies, Vlakteheide

Caledon to Bredasdorp in the west, to the Cape Peninsula, Agulhas Plain and the Kamanassie Mountains 90cm Least concern 1.2m Least concern August to January VI= 6 Throughout year VI= 2 Seeder, insects Restricted (resprouts after fire) Seeder, birds Widespread Localised (resprouts after fire) Fresh and dried Localised industries Fresh industry Brunia noduliflora Brunia Erica imbricata Erica Family: Bruniaceae Species: noduliflora Family: Ericaceae Species: imbricata Genus: Brunia Common name: Knopbossie Genus: Erica Common name: Kêr-kêr

South-western and Southern Cape Gifberg to Port Elizabeth

50cm-1.5m Least concern 80cm Least concern

March to June VI= 2 June to December VI= 4

Seeder, insects Widespread Seeder, insects Widespread (resprouts after fire) Common Fresh industry Common Fresh and dried industries Staavia radiata Erica plukenetii Erica Family: Bruniaceae Species: radiata Family: Ericaceae Species: plukenetii Genus: Staavia Common name: Glasogies, Altydbossie Genus: Erica Common name: Hangertjie

Malmesbury to Riversdale

90cm Least concern 1m Least concern

September to VI= 3 Throughout year VI= 3 December Widespread Seeder, birds Widespread Seeder, insects (resprouts after fire) Common Fresh industry Common

Fresh industry n.b. E. plukenetii subsp. lineata is threatened and has a VI of 8 Aulax umbellata Leucadendron linifolium Family: Proteaceae Species: umbellata Family: Proteaceae Species: linifolium Genus: Aulax Common name: Krismisblom, Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Line-leaf Conebush Broad-leaf Featherbush

Kogelberg to Still Bay Cape Peninsula and Overberg

2.5m Near Threatened 2m Vulnerable

September to VI= 2 September, October VI= 4 February Widespread Seeder, insects Widespread Seeder, insects Common Fresh and dried Localised Fresh and dried industries industries Leucadendron coniferum Leucadendron meridianum Family: Proteaceae Species: coniferum Family: Proteaceae Species: meridianum Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Duinegeelbos, Geelbos, Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Geelbos, Limestone Conebush Dune Conebush

Agulhas Plain, coastal areas of the Cape Gouritz River mouth to the Agulhas Plain Peninsula, and Betty’s Bay 2m Least concern 4m Vulnerable July and August VI= 7 August, September VI= 5 Seeder, insects Restricted Seeder, wind Widespread Fresh and dried Localised Fresh industry Localised industries Leucadendron laureolum Leucadendron muirii Family: Proteaceae Species: laureolum Family: Proteaceae Species: muirii Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Louriertolbos, Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Kruiphout, Silver-ball Conebush Golden Sunshinebush

Cape Peninsula to Potberg and inland Bredasdorp and the Agulhas Plain to the Paarl to Still Bay

2m Least concern 2m Least Concern

June to August VI= 3 November, December VI= 7

Seeder, insects and Widespread Seeder, wind Restricted resprouter Localised Dried industry Localised Fresh industry Leucadendron platyspermum Family: Proteaceae Species: platyspermum Family: Proteaceae Species: xanthoconus Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Platy, Platy Star, Tol, Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Blinkblaartolbos Tolle, Plate- Conebush Sickle-leaf Conebush

Kleinmond to Villiersdorp and the Agulhas Plain Cape Peninsula to Potberg

1.7m Vulnerable 2m Least concern

September VI= 7 August VI= 2

Seeder, insects Restricted Seeder, insects Widespread

Fresh and dried Localised Fresh and dried Common industries industries Leucadendron rubrum cordifolium Leucospermum Family: Proteaceae Species: rubrum Family: Proteaceae Species: cordifolium Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Spinning Top Genus: Leucospermum Common name: Luise, Luisies, Speldekussing, Pincushion

Cape Floristic Region Kogelberg, Groenlandberge, Houwhoek, Caledon , Kleinrivierberge, Akkedisberg and 2.5m Dried industry Bredasdorp mountains, and Soetanysberg

August, September Least concern 1.5m Near threatened

Seeder, wind August to January VI= 4

Seeder, birds Widespread

Fresh industry Localised Leucadendron salicifolium Leucospermum truncatulum Leucospermum Family: Proteaceae Species: salicifolium Family: Proteaceae Species: truncatulum Genus: Leucadendron Common name: Geelbos, Strictum, Genus: Leucospermum Common name: Buxi, Buxifolium, Common Stream Conebush Oval-leaf Pincushion

Olifants River to the Langeberg Mountains Kogelberg to Agulhas at Riversdale 2m Near threatened 3m Fresh and dried industries August to December VI= 6 July to September Least concern Seeder, insects Widespread Seeder, wind VI=5 Fresh and dried industries Protea eximia Family: Proteaceae Species: cucullatus Family: Proteaceae Species: eximia Genus: Mimetes Common name: Common Pagoda Genus: Protea Common name: Broad-leaf Sugarbush

Cederberg to the Kogelberg and Agulhas Plain Worcester, via Van Stadensberg, to Port Elizabeth to the Kouga Mountains 5m Fresh industry 2m Least concern July to December Least concern August to March VI= 2 Seeder, birds Seeder, birds Widespread

Fresh industry Common Protea longifolia Family: Proteaceae Species: compacta Family: Proteaceae Species: longifolia Genus: Protea Common name: Bot River Sugarbush Genus: Protea Common name: Swartbaard, Long-leaf Sugarbush

South-western Cape Coast: , Hottentots Holland, Du Toitskloof Mountains, Houwhoek, , Elim, Napier, to the Agulhas Plain Bredasdorp and Struisbaai 1.5m Vulnerable 3.5m Near threatened Species: eximia Common name:May Broad-leaf to September Sugarbush VI= 3 April to September VI= 7 Seeder, birds Widespread Seeder, birds Widespread Fresh industry Common Fresh and dried Localised industries Protea cynaroides Protea neriifolia Family: Proteaceae Species: cynaroides Family: Proteaceae Species: neriifolia Genus: Protea Common name: Koningsprotea, King Protea Genus: Protea Common name: Narrow-leaf Sugarbush

Cape Floristic Region: Cederberg to to Port Elizabeth Grahamstown 3-5m Least concern 2m Least concern February to VI= 3 Throughout year VI= 4 November Widespread Seeder, birds Widespread Seeder, birds Common Fresh industry Localised Fresh industry Protea obtusifolia Protea speciosa Family: Proteaceae Species: obtusifolia Family: Proteaceae Species: speciosa Genus: Protea Common name: Limestone Sugarbush Genus: Protea Common name: Bruinbaard Suikerkan, Brown-bearded Sugarbush

Stanford to Cape Agulhas, Still Bay and to the Cape Peninsula to the Agulhas Plain Gouritz River mouth 1.2m Least concern 2-3m Near threatened June to January VI= 7 April to September VI= 7 Seeder, birds Restricted Seeder, birds Restricted (resprout) Localised Fresh industry Localised Fresh and dried industries Protea repens Protea sulphurea Family: Proteaceae Species: repens Family: Proteaceae Species: sulphurea Genus: Protea Common name: Suikerkan, Common Sugarbush Genus: Protea Common name: Skaamroos, Sulphur Sugarbush

South-western Cape to east of Grahamstown Mountains to the Swartberg and Waboomsberg 2.5m Least concern 50cm Fresh and dried All year VI= 3 industries April to August Seeder, birds Widespread Least concern Seeder, small Dried industry Common mammals (rodents) Protea susannae Protea scolymocephala Family: Proteaceae Species: scolymocephala Family: Proteaceae Species: susannae Genus: Protea Common name: Skollie, Scoly, Thistle Sugarbush Genus: Protea Common name: Stinkblaarprotea, Stink-leaf Sugarbush

Olifants River to the Cape Peninsula and Stanford to through the Overberg to Hermanus 2-3m Near threatened 1.5m Fresh and dried industries April to September VI= 7 July to November Vulnerable Seeder, birds Restricted Seeder, insects Fresh industry Localised

Thamnochortus insignis Thamnochortus Agathosma betulina Family: Restionaceae Species: insignis Family: Rutaceae Species: betulina Genus: Thamnochortus Common name: Mannetjies Riet, Albertinia, Dekriet, Genus: Agathosma Common name: Boegoe, Buchu, Albertinia Thatching Reed, Thatchreed Rondeblaarboegoe

Southern Cape (also roadsides from Port Calvinia, through the Cederberg, Tulbagh and Elizabeth to the Cederberg) Ceres, to the Piketberg

2.5m Least concern 2m Medicine

March to April VI= 3 June to November Declining

Seeder, wind Restricted Seeder, insects (resprouts post fire) Thatch Localised Phylica ericoides Acmadenia heterophylla Family: Rhamnaceae Species: ericoides Family: Rutaceae Species: heterophylla Genus: Phylica Common name: Hardebos Genus: Acmadenia Common name: Buchu, Boegoe

Saldanha Bay to Port Elizabeth Bredasdorp, Caledon and Mossel Bay

90cm Least concern 2m Fresh industry

All year VI= 3 September to March Least concern

Seeder, flies Widespread Seeder, insects

Fresh industry Common Anthospermum aethiopicum Anthospermum Family: Rubiaceae Species: aethiopicum Genus: Anthospermum Common name: Seeroogbossie, Katstert

Cape Floristic Region

2m Least concern

August to January VI= 3

Seeder, wind Widespread

Fresh industry Common Authors: Gerhard van Deventer, Dr David Bek, Dr Alice Ashwell This Field Guide is licensed under the following Creative Commons Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives Editors: Heather D’Alton, Ross Turner, Bronwyn Botha, Dr Alex Hughes, Professor Cheryl McEwan CC BY-NC-ND Any reproduction is subject to the following terms of license:

Acknowledgements Attribution — All copies (or quoted passages) state: Copyright ©2015 Gerhard van Deventer Sandberg Fynbos Reserve, Dr David Bek Newcastle University, Dr Alice Ashwell, Heather D’Alton Flower Valley Conservation Trust, Ross Turner University • Newcastle University’s Economic and Social Research Council of KwaZulu-Natal, Bronwyn Botha Flower Valley Conservation Trust, Dr Alex Hughes Newcastle University, Professor Cheryl McEwan Durham University (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Scheme provided funding for this Field Guide. Underpinning the guide is research on sustainable wild flower NonCommercial – Unless authorised by authorised signatories of Newcastle harvesting funded by ESRC (grant reference ES/K005626/1 led University and the Flower Valley Conservation Trust commercial use by any organisation is prohibited. by Dr Alex Hughes) and by The Leverhulme Trust (grant reference RF150138 led by Professor Cheryl McEwan). Dr David Bek and No Derivatives - Licensees may copy, distribute, display and perform only verbatim Gerhard van Deventer worked on these projects. copies of the work, not derivative works based on it. • Fernkloof Nature Reserve and friends, including Sandy Jenkin and Ronnie Hazell, who provided many of the photographs and much of The production of the Field Guide for Wild Flower Harvesting has been supported by the botanical information. the ESRC, the European Union and the WWF Nedbank Green Trust. The contents of • Tony Rebelo, Nicky van Berkel and Carina Lochner who provided this publication are the sole responsibility of Flower Valley Conservation Trust and the photographs via the iSpot platform (http://www.ispotnature.org/ authors, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the WWF Nedbank Green Trust. communities/southern-africa). • Kobus Tollig Photography and Heather D’Alton, who provided many of the photographs used in the Field Guide. • D Millenium Multi Events, Mntambo Nakwa, Londeka Zondi and Mkhululi Silandela, who helped to translate the text into isiXhosa.

• Ronel Beukes, who translated the text into Afrikaans. • Roger Bailey, Conservation Manager at the Flower Valley Conservation Flower Valley Conservation Trust PBO no: 930 011 712 Trust, who provided specialist advice. NPO no: 083-402-NPO Contact Details This abbreviated version of the Field Guide for Wild Harvesters is PO Box 354 available online at: Bredasdorp 7280 http://www.flowervalley.org.za/fieldguidecardsA6.pdf South Africa A more detailed version of the Field Guide for Wild Harvesters is Tel. +27 (0)28 425 2218 available online at: Email: [email protected] Website: www.flowervalley.org.za http://www.flowervalley.org.za/fieldguidebooklet.pdf Facebook: Flower Valley Conservation Trust Twitter Handle: @flowervalleyct