Fynbos Biome -the Garden Route garden
The wonderful diversity and vastness of species attributed to fynbos is the result of its antiquity. The southern region of the planet did not experience the last ice age of 10,000 years ago that smothered and wiped out the vegetation of the northern hemisphere. Although the fynbos biome occupies 1% of Southern Africa it contains 69% of the sub-continent’s plant species.
For example, between 1772-1795 Francis Masson, a Scot from Kew Gardens, discovered 400 species of plants that were new to science, some 50 of which were Pelargoniums that soon became popular horticultural subjects. The Englishman William Burchell (1781-1863) recorded 105 species in a short walk around the Lion’s Head of Table Mountain. Over the next years he collected over 60,000 plant specimens. Dr Rudolf Marloth, a German analytical chemist coined the term Cape Floral Kingdom that christened the region botanically. His expeditions into the mountains to examine and obtain samples of the flora led to his involvement in establishing the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1891. He found many new species on his field trips that he included in his magnus opus the six volumed “The Flora of South Africa” published between 1913 and 1932. The fynbos biome has such a wide range of shrub shapes and distinctive floral forms, that it has proved to be richer than the plant life of the whole British Isles. However, many of the species recorded by the early naturalists are now extinct. On the other hand, there are new plants still being discovered in remote valleys and areas difficult to access. These rarities capture our imagination and serve to make us marvel at the extent of the unbounded diversity the fynbos biome has produced.
The Red Data Book that classifies rare and endangered plants records that the fynbos biome has the highest number of listed plants in it in the world. Three quarters of all plants in the South African Red Data Book occur in the Cape Floral Kingdom. Some species are threatened by urban expansion like many areas around Cape Town and others by alien species, so called exotics, which infest tracts of otherwise undisturbed mountains and valleys. Encouragement of these alien plants should be avoided. Port Jackson, Silky Hakea,and Black Wattle are chief amongst those invasive plants that have overwhelmed large tracts of fynbos and continue to threaten it in other areas as they grow in impenetrable thickets eating into the indigenous vegetation. Indigenous means – found naturally in a particular area – that means “easy to grow” because it’s suited to local conditions. It means that birds in the same area, can make use of it, might even depend on it, that butterflies and insects also interact with the it, that it fits into the environment without taking over from other species and benefits the whole – animals, insects, other plants - because of what it contributes. When we don’t value “indigenous” we risk losing it. That has a knock on affect of changing our environment by threatening something else that depends on it. For example, the Brenton Blue Butterfly only occurs on a 2 hectare patch of south facing slopes at Brenton-on-Sea, in the Knysna area. Fortunately a reserve has been proclaimed over this piece of ground in an attempt to protect this vulnerable butterfly.(This is a mere 25kms from Sedgefield.) The female lays her eggs on the leaves of one very specific plant of the pea family, the Indigofera erecta of the fynbos biome. The larvae are protected by one particular species of ant. Therefore the survival of this butterfly depends on these other two elements being able to survive. The butterfly itself can be seen from late October to December and then again from February to March each year.
“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you its going to be a butterfly." Buckminster Fuller
A Source of Technological InspirationAs an example of Biomimicry recent studies of butterfly wings have yielded astonishing new discoveries. The brilliant and varied colours are caused by a clever blend of pigmentation and light dispersal. The entire wing is covered with microscopic scales, which in turn have intricate, nanoscale structures covering them. These structures reflect, absorb and separate light in such a way as to create subtle blends of dazzling colour. Engineers are using these ideas, evolved by nature over millions of years, to design new types of materials, such as textiles, cosmetics, paints and glazing, with a powerful control of colours, adding eyecatching shimmer to many modern products. Butterflies are thus an important source of bio-inspiration and may have yet more secrets to share with us. (excerpt from the "Brenton Blue" website)Click here to find out more about the Brenton Blue Butterfly
The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of 6 Floral Kingdoms in the world and is entirely within one country. It occupies only 6% of the land area of South Africa and yet one third of all plant species are found here. It contains more plant species in a 10 km radius than tropical forests that are generally recognised to contain the highest biodiversity anywhere in the world.
And the geophytic category Not all these plant species are found along the Garden Route though. Some, like the example of the Brenton Blue Butterfly, are restricted to very small and remote areas in the mountains or valleys of the greater Western Cape region.
Renosterveld soils are fertile so much of this ground has been ploughed up for crops like winter wheat and vineyards. Destruction of their habitat through agriculture is eating into these unique floral reserves. Conservation of the small area remaining is being belatedly attempted. Climate change is a fairly recent and real threat too. Considered a mediterranean type climatic area, the Garden Route region has been experiencing seriously reduced rainfall for the last year and a half. Perennial rivers have stopped running and the whole area has encountered hotter summer conditions. We are presently living in what's called by all the local municipalities, "a water stressed area". This has to be affecting our natural environment which has adapted to having rainfall virtually every month throughout the year. Its what makes this area known as the Garden Route!
When walking in the fynbos biomme, I am enthralled by the diversity of plants one can see in an area of less than a meter. One can but marvel at the miracle of nature – how such beautiful flowers, tended by no-one, can flourish in these poor quality soils.
The many kinds of restios, a group of reed-like grasses should not be overlooked. Stunning in nature, in a fynbos garden they are a fine backdrop to their floral counterparts and are also excellent accent plants.
As John Keats’ poem says “A thing of beauty is a joy forever” and the fynbos biome is a bountiful wild garden of breathtaking variety that deserves to be protected. To nurture it in nature we just need to recognise its intrinsic value in our lives. More areas need to be proclaimed for its preservation. By growing it in our gardens along the Garden Route where the fynbos biome exists naturally, we are helping to ensure its survival. Considering that over 8000 plants are represented in the fynbos biome, our gardens could never do justice to it, but ponder the privilege of growing fynbos as opposed to exotics (plants that originate from other countries). These sort after spectacular plants are right on our own doorstep. To buy books about Fynbos click here!
The George Botanical Gardens are a great local resource and they hold spring and autumn sales of indigenous plants. Diepwalle nursery in the Knysna forest and online suppliers like Fine bush people are amongst those that can provide us with fynbos plants that are indigenous to our area and there are many indigenous nurseries around and about too.
Creatures found in FynbosOnce upon a time larger animals like black rhino, hippo, buffalo, red Hartebees, eland and lion roamed amongst the fynbos biome. Now they are long gone, hunted to the last one by the early settlers. They live on only in national parks or game farms. The Bontebok was rescued from extinction when there were less than 100 left and similarly the Cape Mountain Zebra. The Quagga and Blue Antelope are extinct - wiped out for good!The decimated herds of elephant retreated into the Knysna forest but continued to be persecuted until a mere 12 were left. In recent times it was thought that only one named the Matriarch remained keeping to the forest depths and seldom seen. However, an independent researcher, Gareth Patterson has discovered through DNA testing of elephant droppings that there are at least 5 females in the Knysna forest and a male has been photographed. It seems possible that without human interference or protection a small herd could be recovering from the brink of extinction. How amazing is that! These could be the last and only free-roaming elephants in South Africa.
So the Fynbos biome is an inspirational experience which you can easily enjoy when driving, cycling or walking in the countryside. Its very nature, its scent, its colours and its form is appealing. That it attracts many birds, beautiful sunbirds amongst them, butterflies, bees and insects, as well as small mammals like grysbok, mongooses, dassies, striped mice and tortoises reflect its vitality. With so much exhuberant life in the fynbos biome, let's consciously do what we can to promote it and protect it.
To find out about a Sedgefield Protea Farm click here!
Links to similar Sites
Return from Fynbos Biome to Garden Route National Park
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The European botanists that landed in the Cape in the 18th and 19th centuries were astounded by the variety of new species they encountered at every step.
However, an integral feature of the fynbos biome is fire and it is an essential component of its survival strategy. There are five recognised fire climate zones, the frequency and intensity varying from one type of vegetation to another. The spontaneous burning usually occurs in the heat of late summer. The heat combined with “berg” winds ignite the veld and fire burns rapidly through an area. Regeneration of fynbos is enabled as the aftermath of the burn encourages the germination of fynbos seeds. Proteas, for example, are not long-lived plants, and the regeneration of their seed by fire ensures their survival. In other instances burning is a prerequisite for sprouting and flowering, for example, the Cyrtanthus Fire lily.
I used to be ignorant of matters concerning ecology and preservation of our natural environment. As the years went by and I read more, I realised how important planting indigenous was for the biodiversity, integrity and sustainability of specific vegetation biomes.
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FINE BUSH PEOPLE will send FYNBOS SEEDS to anywhere in the world. The packets contain full growing instructions. CLICK on the picture below to go to their website.
CLICK on the picture link below to find out how to experience enjoyable walks amongst the Fynbos on the CAPE CLAWLESS OTTER TRAIL and the modified DUNE MOLERAT TRAIL.
To see the world in a grain of sand
And Heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
- William Blake
