7.9.

2014 Fynbos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fynbos 3/6
Gladiolus alatus flowers in Cape
Fynbos.
Lowland fynbos, in this case
Hangklip Sand Fynbos on the
Cape Peninsula
Montane fynbos, in this case
Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos on
the Cape Peninsula
Depending on the locality and the aspects under discussion, several other families have equal claim to being
characteristic, including Asteraceae, Rutaceae, and Iridaceae.
[1]
More than 1400 bulb species occur among the
fynbos, of which 96 are Gladiolus and 54 Lachenalia. Areas that are dominated by "renosterbos",
Elytropappus rhinocerotis, (Asteraceae) are known as Renosterveld (Afrikaans for "rhinoceros veld").
[1]
Ecoregions
The fynbos area has been divided into two very similar ecoregions:
the lowland fynbos (below 300 m above sea level) on the sandy soil
of the west coast, and the montane fynbos of the Cape Fold Belt.
The Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld experiences regular winter
rainfall, especially to the west of Cape Agulhas. The ecoregion has
been subdivided into 9 areas: the West Coast Forelands from the
Cape Flats to the Olifants River (Western Cape); the Warm
Bokkeveld basin around the town of Ceres; the Elgin Valley around
the town of Elgin; the sandy Agulhas Plain on the coast; the Breede River
valley around the town of Worcester; the South Coast Forelands from
Caledon west to Mossel Bay; the south-eastern end of the Little Karoo;
Langkloof valley; and the Southeastern Coast Forelands west from
Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth.
The flora of the lowlands contains a high number of endemic species, and
tends to favour larger plants than those growing on the hillier areas. They
include the larger Restionaceae such as species of Elegia,
Thamnochortus, and Willdenowia and proteas such as king protea
(Protea cynaroides) and blushing bride (Serruria florida). Particular
types of lowland fynbos include the shrubs and herbs of the coastal sand
dunes, the mixture of ericoids and restoids with thickets of shrubs such as
Maytenus, and other Celastraceae, sideroxylons and other Sapotaceae,
and Rhus and other Anacardiaceae on the coastal sands; the classic
fynbos of the sandplains of the West Coast Forelands, and the Agulhas
Plain; the grassy fynbos of the hillier and wetter areas of the South and
South-Eastern Coast Forelands; areas where fynbos and renosterveld
are mixed; coastal renosterveld on the West and South Coast Forelands;
and the inland renosterveld of the drier inland Little Karoo and Warm
Bokkeveld.
[5]
The area is also home to a large number of endemic creatures that have
adapted to life in this area, such as the monkey beetles which pollinate
Ixia viridiflora. Endemic species of fish in the five river systems occur in
the area, too. Endemic reptiles include a number of tortoises and the chameleon-like arum frog (Hyperolius
horstockii).
The Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld is the area above 300 m, a total of 45,000 km
2
of the Cape Fold
Mountains. The same level of floral variety, including all three characteristic fynbos families, is found there, but
ericas predominate. Because the higher and wetter areas are more protected and contain important water
sources, the original flora is more intact than in the lowlands; but agriculture and global warming are stll threats.
The region includes the mountains in the west from the Cape Peninsula to the Kouebokkeveld Mountains, the