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Exploring the Cape Floral Kingdom Feature Article Exploring the by Marilyn DalyCape Floral Kingdom ost people almost certainly publicized, critical water shortages in Port Elizabeth. Cape Town and vicinity Massociate South Africa with wild Cape Town. has a Mediterranean-type climate with animal safaris. However, visitors winter-rainfall. Variation in topography, should also explore South Africa’s temperature, and rainfall within the other wildlife—the beauty, richness, Cape Floral Kingdom contribute to the and diversity of the Cape Floral varied habitats and increased species Kingdom. diversity. Though little known outside of South Africa, the Cape Floral Region and its plant communities are a plant lover’s dream come true. The mountains and countryside offer endless hiking opportunities where Cape Floral Kingdom one can walk among the Cape Flora The Cape Floral Kingdom, located at seemingly forever. the southernmost tip of South Africa, is the smallest of the world’s six floral Table Mountain with Cape Town below kingdoms, has greater plant diversity than some of the richest parts of tropical Amazonia and is completely contained in one country. The Cape Floral Kingdom boasts nearly 9,000 indigenous plant species, of which 68% are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. Compare this to the largest of the six floral Table Mountain and Fynbos kingdoms, the Boreal Forest Kingdom, Ecotourism is a vital component photo courtesy of Suzanne Daly which covers over 19,000,000 square Cape Town view with protea from top of of South Arica’s economy. Fortunately, miles or 40% of the earth’s surface Table Mountain South Africa has taken the initiative and extends across the northern parts to preserve the delicate balance of North America to Europe, northern The Cape Floral Kingdom includes between plant and human needs and central Asia, and North Africa. five of the seven South African biomes. by preserving intact but threatened The tiny Cape Floral Kingdom is A biome is a biological community areas; through developing educational less than 35,000 square miles and of plants and animals that have programs in schools; by holding local covers only 0.04% of the world’s land adapted to local conditions such as flower shows to help communities surface and supports one of the world’s appreciate their floral heritage; by highest level of plant biodiversity. organizing outings to remove alien Yet the wonders of South Africa’s vegetation; and by reaching out to floral heritage are hardly known or international organizations, such as appreciated outside of South Africa. the World Wildlife Fund for support. The heart of the Cape Floral Conservation through cultivation Kingdom centers around Cape Town encourages people to add nursery- (a city built around the base of Table grown, native plants in their gardens, Mountain) and the Cape Peninsula thus preserving indigenous plants. in the Western Cape then extends Growing these native, drought-tolerant northward to Namaqualand and plants helps conserve water, a serious eastward along the southern coast to concern because of recently, widely Vol. 32, No. 3 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 3 climate patterns (precipitation and are tough, evergreen species that have temperature), geography, geology, soil developed characteristics to help type, and dominant vegetation and them tolerate the warm, dry summer fauna. The Fynbos Biome is sometimes conditions and the frequent fires that considered to be synonymous with rush across the landscape. Poor soil the Cape Floral Kingdom because the and frequent fires prevent population Fynbos Biome dominates, supporting by typical grasses that would support about 7,000 of the Cape Floral large grazers. Most fynbos animals Region’s 9,000 species with 80% of are small and nocturnal—tortoises, these being endemic. lizards, and geckos. You’ll also come Fynbos Biome Flora across ostriches, baboons, and some The Fynbos Biome is made up of two deer species. Insects are important primary vegetation types: Fynbos pollinators. (fine bush) and Renosterveld. Fynbos While Fynbos plants are unique, vegetation makes up the majority of they demonstrate many similarities to the Fynbos and characterizes several other Mediterranean-type plants around different Fynbos landscapes. Fynbos the world, especially the Kwongan and Renosterveld are very distinctive vegetation type of southwestern and demonstrate different local Australia. Convergent evolution growing conditions, plant communities, produced similar proteoid species on both continents that provide abundant Elegia tectorum, previously and ecological relationships. Regions Chondropetalum tectorum (Cape of greatest rainfall (>26 inches/year) nectar to attract pollinating birds. Fynbos leaves may be reduced to thatching reed) is the most well-known of are dominated by Fynbos, whereas the restios and is used as for thatching Renosterveld has rainfall between fine, thin, or curved needles to decrease roofs in South Africa. It depends on 10–26 inches/year. Areas with less than surface area; they may be thin and smoke from the veldt’s frequent fires 10 inches/year shifts to the Succulent leathery with a thick waxy cuticle to to germinate its seeds. Upright to Karoo landscape. limit water loss through transpiration; symmetrically arching, a smaller variety or they can be thick and fleshy to store has been brought into cultivation that Renosterveld Landscape water as a gelatinous liquid inside their reaches only 2–3'. Grows best in moist The Renosterveld vegetation type is leaves. conditions. Grow on pond’s edge or in a named for the endemic and prevalent Some fynbos species contain water container. dull grey shrub, Renosterbos— volatile oils that discourage browsers. Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis This resin causes these plants to (Asteraceae); however, several other burst into flames when ignited, thus families are also well-represented. contributing to the fire ecology upon Because Renosterveld grows in areas which so many fynbos plants are with particularly fertile soils, much has dependent. Fire refreshes the fynbos been lost to wheat farming and grazing; landscape and prevents it from being whereas Fynbos, favoring poor soils, overtaken by taller tree species. has been somewhat protected. Plant Families Three distinctive plant families (Restionaceae, Proteaceae, Ericaceae) define fynbos. Geophytes (bulbs, tubers, corms, rhizomes) are considered an important fourth component. Succulent type plants also play an important role in various Fynbos types and other Cape Floral Biomes. Spring blooming annuals and herbaceous Elegia capensis (horsetail restio) is South African Fynbos: A patchwork of perennials add the finishing touches to the most elegant and dramatic of the low shrubs the Cape Floral Biomes. These typical Cape reeds. Its culms (stems) grow from plant representatives vary in form underground rhizomes. It can spread Fynbos Landscape and occurrence and help characterize Fynbos winters are mild and rainy rapidly like bamboo once established different plant communities. and summers are dry, ranging from and grows to 9' tall. Each node on culms is encircled with fine needle-like leaves warm-to-hot. The predominant Restionaceae and a white papery sheath. The papery vegetation is a patchwork of low Plants of the Restionaceae (Cape sheaths and culms rustle pleasantly in the shrubs, usually less than 3' tall. Most Reed) Family are always present in wind. Grows in sandy soil, but needs to Fynbos. Known only in the southern be well-watered. 4 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group July 2018 Overview of restios in Fynbos hemisphere, these are tough, shrubby, evergreen, reed-like plants usually with sheathed stems. They may be lower-growing, upright clumps, or majestically erect or arching shrubs, in some cases growing up to 9' tall. Proteaceae Proteoid plants, all from the Proteaceae (Protea) Family, are one of the most common and showy Fynbos flowers. They form the dominant shrub layer of the Fynbos, usually growing to over 5'. They have thick petals, tough woody stems, and fleshy leaves, which help them conserve water and resist fire. They may re-sprout after a fire or more frequently they reappear from wind-dispersed seeds that were safely protected within their cones Protea neriifolia (serotiny) or from seeds that were previously dispersed and buried by ants (myrmecochory). Leucospermum sp. Leucodendron sp. Ericaceae Proteas form the dominant shrub layer. Ericoid or heath-like plants are not There are about 2,000 protea limited to the Ericaceae Family species worldwide—92% of them are (Heath), but are well-represented by found in the Cape Floral Region and this family. Ericas typically have small, 69 species are endemic to the Fynbos. linear, needle-like leaves whorled Proteas from South Africa were around the stem and the leaves are introduced to Europe by early plant rolled under to conserve water. They explorers in the 1700s and have been produce copious amounts of seeds Protea and Erica flowers co-evolved popular cut flowers ever since. which germinate prolifically after a with pollinating sugar birds and sunbirds fire. with long bills that can reach nectar deep Three popular Protea genera that in the fine tubular petals. Many sunbirds have been brought into cultivation for Geophytes and sugarbirds, especially the endemic garden use and for the cut flower trade Various fynbos habitats boast prolific Cape sugarbirds, are dependent on include Protea, Leucospermum, and geophytes (bulbs, tubers, and corms), fynbos flowers and now are threatened Leucodendron.
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