Cape Fynbos at Cape Point. |
Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town. |
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The very different plants on the other side of the road to the previous picture, literally, demonstrates the incredible diversity of fynbos in the Cape of Good Hope Reserve. |
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| Fynbos is the is the name of the vegetation in the Reserve. Two types of fynbos ("fine bush") are found; coastal fynbos on alkaline sands and inland fynbos on acid soils. Fynbos includes 30 endangered plant species, 10 unique to the reserve. Characteristic fynbos plants include proteas, ericas (heath) and restios (reeds). | |||||||||
| Some of the most striking and well known members belong to the Proteacae family, of which up to 24 species occur. These include King Protea, Sugarbush, Black-beard Sugarbush, Tree Pincushion, Snake Stem Pincushion, Common Pagoda, Tree Pagoda, and Golden Cone Bush. Many popular plants like daisies, lilies, pelargoniums, freesias and irises also have their origins in fynbos. |
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Cape
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Hope
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Interesting Facts about Fynbos | ||||
| Fynbos leaves are largely unpalatable and provide insufficient nutrients to sustain animals. Hence the absence of large numbers of animals where fynbos grows. | |||||
| The area is, however, richly endowed with varied bird life, and is home to the lovely Cape Sugar Bird which draws sustenance from the sugary nectar of the King Protea. In return for his favor, the bird pollinates the protea flowers. | |||||
| The Cape has a climate that ranges from cold, wet winters to hot dry summers and fires are fairly common. Fynbos has therefore adapted to survive poor soil conditions, fire and prolonged periods of drought. | |||||
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When fire threatens, fynbos seeds remain protected in woody cones until the cones split open and release the seeds to enable perpetuation of the species. Soil is a good insulator and spares the underground parts of the plants from being ravaged by fire, giving fynbos a greater chance of survival. Fire is therefore not necessarily a threat, but a welcome element and part of the ecology in the reserve. | |||
| Click on the above pictures for an enlargement and for more information on the specific species or take the Virtual Fynbos Tour. | |
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Fynbos Tour. |
Cape Point Tour |
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| Some of the information on this page from the Cape of Good Hope Brochure, part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. | ||||||||
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Where to go? |
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Contact:
info@sunsetbeach.co.za |
Janthina |
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Siffie for Beach Hotel Rates |
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