Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos
Encyclopedia
Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos is a vegetation type that naturally occurs in the Cape Winelands (or "Boland") of the Western Cape
, South Africa
.
This vegetation type is found on lower mountain slopes and high, rolling plains in the Western Cape
Boland of South Africa
. The loamy soils are naturally poor, moist and slightly acidic but the biodiversity is incredibly rich.
The vegetation consists of a diverse array of Protea
, Erica
, geophyte and daisy
species, as well as some endemic species. In the moister areas, the Ericas predominate over the other plant groups.
This vegetation type is more vulnerable than other types of Mountain Fynbos
, as it typically grows on lower slopes, which tend to be developed for housing or cultivated for farming.
and Kirstenbosch
. On the northern slopes of Devils Peak, it merges into Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
. This ecosystem is usually classed as being a type of Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, although there are differences.
There is a forest of Silvertrees
(Leucadendron argenteum
) growing in this spot of Peninsula Shale Fynbos, just above Rhodes Memorial
. This rare and enormous Protea
is typically restricted to the Peninsula Granite Fynbos
of Cape Town. It is not known why - in addition - it grows in the shale fynbos here.
Index: Fynbos - habitats and species.
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
This vegetation type is found on lower mountain slopes and high, rolling plains in the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
Boland of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The loamy soils are naturally poor, moist and slightly acidic but the biodiversity is incredibly rich.
The vegetation consists of a diverse array of Protea
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
, Erica
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
, geophyte and daisy
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
species, as well as some endemic species. In the moister areas, the Ericas predominate over the other plant groups.
This vegetation type is more vulnerable than other types of Mountain Fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
, as it typically grows on lower slopes, which tend to be developed for housing or cultivated for farming.
Peninsula Shale Fynbos
An isolated patch of this vegetation can also be found further to the west, within the city of Cape Town. Here it is usually known as Peninsula Shale Fynbos and occurs on the lower slopes of Devils Peak as far south as Newlands ForestNewlands forest
Newlands Forest is a conservancy area on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, beside the suburb of Newlands, Cape Town. It is owned and maintained by the Table Mountain National Parks Board, along with the City Parks Department of Cape Town, and includes a Fire Station, Nursery and Reservoir.The...
and Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch is the name of a famous botanical garden nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town....
. On the northern slopes of Devils Peak, it merges into Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
Peninsula Shale Renosterveld is a unique vegetation type that is found only on the slopes of Signal Hill and Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. It is critically endangered and exists nowhere else...
. This ecosystem is usually classed as being a type of Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos, although there are differences.
There is a forest of Silvertrees
Leucadendron argenteum
Leucadendron argenteum is an endangered species in the family Proteaceae, endemic to a small area of the Cape Peninsula, in and around the city of Cape Town.-Appearance:...
(Leucadendron argenteum
Leucadendron argenteum
Leucadendron argenteum is an endangered species in the family Proteaceae, endemic to a small area of the Cape Peninsula, in and around the city of Cape Town.-Appearance:...
) growing in this spot of Peninsula Shale Fynbos, just above Rhodes Memorial
Rhodes Memorial
Rhodes Memorial on Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa, is a memorial to English-born South African politician Cecil John Rhodes designed by Sir Herbert Baker.-Location:...
. This rare and enormous Protea
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
is typically restricted to the Peninsula Granite Fynbos
Peninsula Granite Fynbos
Peninsula Granite Fynbos is an endangered Fynbos vegetation type which is endemic to the city of Cape Town and occurs nowhere else. It is a unique type of tall, dense and diverse scrubland, scattered with trees...
of Cape Town. It is not known why - in addition - it grows in the shale fynbos here.
See also
- Biodiversity of Cape TownBiodiversity of Cape Town- Floristic region :The city of Cape Town lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom . - Vegetation types :...
- Peninsula Shale RenosterveldPeninsula Shale RenosterveldPeninsula Shale Renosterveld is a unique vegetation type that is found only on the slopes of Signal Hill and Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. It is critically endangered and exists nowhere else...
- Peninsula Granite FynbosPeninsula Granite FynbosPeninsula Granite Fynbos is an endangered Fynbos vegetation type which is endemic to the city of Cape Town and occurs nowhere else. It is a unique type of tall, dense and diverse scrubland, scattered with trees...
- Cape Floristic RegionCape floristic regionThe Cape Floristic Region is a floristic region located near the southern tip of South Africa. It is the only floristic region of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the Cape Floristic Province.The Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised...
Index: Fynbos - habitats and species.