Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
Encyclopedia
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is an endangered vegetation type. This is a unique type of Cape Strandveld that is endemic to the coastal areas in Cape Town
, including the Cape Flats
district.
of browsing animals, and in the past it was grazed by large herds.
The strongly alkaline, calcareous dune sand of the coast lies over a base of older limestone
. In some places, this limestone juts out of the dune sand, and forms impressive beach cliffs. Succulents form a high proportion of Strandveld plants, consequently, fires are much less common in Strandveld than in the neighbouring Fynbos
vegetation.
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is endangered. More than half of the Cape’s Strandveld has been lost to urbanisation and the building of beach resorts, and only 14 percent of this unique vegetation type is actually conserved.
Habitat preserves
Nature preserves with Cape Flats Dune Strandveld habitat include:
used to exist at Noordhoek, Olifantsbos, Macassar and Gordons Bay.
Plants that are naturally found in Cape Strandveld include shrubs such as Chrysanthemoides monilifera
, Olea exasperata, Metalasia muricata, Roepera flexuosum, Rhus laevigata
and Rhus glauca
; succulents such as Sour figs (Carpobrotus acinaciformis and Carpobrotus edulis) and Mesembryanthemum
species; Restio
s; herbs such as geraniums and a great variety of daisies (Senecio elegans
, Senecio burchellii, Dimorphotheca pluvialis and many others).
Larger trees that are indigenous to coastal Strandveld include:
There are also endemic plant species such as Lampranthus
tenuifolius.
The most similar vegetation types to CFDS are Langebaan Dune Strandveld and Overberg Dune Strandveld.
Index: Fynbos - habitats and species.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, including the Cape Flats
Cape Flats
The Cape Flats is an expansive, low-lying, flat area situated to the southeast of the central business district of Cape Town. To many people in Cape Town, the area is known simply as 'The Flats'....
district.
Habitat
Strandveld means “beach scrub” in the Afrikaans language. It covers and stabilises sand dunes on the beaches around Cape Town, and is incredibly colourful in spring when it bursts into flower. It supports a very high biomassBiomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
of browsing animals, and in the past it was grazed by large herds.
The strongly alkaline, calcareous dune sand of the coast lies over a base of older limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. In some places, this limestone juts out of the dune sand, and forms impressive beach cliffs. Succulents form a high proportion of Strandveld plants, consequently, fires are much less common in Strandveld than in the neighbouring 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...
vegetation.
Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is endangered. More than half of the Cape’s Strandveld has been lost to urbanisation and the building of beach resorts, and only 14 percent of this unique vegetation type is actually conserved.
Habitat preserves
Nature preserves with Cape Flats Dune Strandveld habitat include:
- Blaauwberg Conservation AreaBlaauwberg Conservation AreaBlaauwberg Conservation Area is a nature reserve in Cape Town, located north of the main city centre. With its impressive views over Table Bay, this is the only viewpoint in the world where one can simultaneously look out over two official World Heritage Sites .Proclaimed as a nature reserve in...
- Edith Stephens Wetland ParkEdith Stephens Wetland ParkEdith Stephens Wetland Park is a nature reserve for wetlands and fynbos, located in the city of Cape Town, South Africa.The park consists of a large seasonal wetland, with surrounding stretches of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation...
- Rondevlei Nature Reserve
- Wolfgat Nature ReserveWolfgat Nature ReserveWolfgat Nature Reserve is a coastal nature reserve on False Bay in Cape Town, South Africa.This conservation area consists of 248 ha of endangered dune vegetation and majestic limestone cliffs, extending along a portion of the False Bay coastline. The Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation in this...
Flora
Cape Strandveld vegetation is typically composed of areas of tall, evergreen shrubs, with great numbers of bulbs, grasses, succulents and annual flowers growing in between. Historically, dense forests of large Milkwood treesSideroxylon inerme
Sideroxylon inerme is a Southern African coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, dainty white flowers. The tree's formal name means "Iron-wood" in Greek, referring to its very hard timber....
used to exist at Noordhoek, Olifantsbos, Macassar and Gordons Bay.
Plants that are naturally found in Cape Strandveld include shrubs such as Chrysanthemoides monilifera
Chrysanthemoides monilifera
Chrysanthemoides monilifera...
, Olea exasperata, Metalasia muricata, Roepera flexuosum, Rhus laevigata
Rhus laevigata
Rhus laevigata is a small, bushy, evergreen tree that occurs in fynbos and coastal shrub in South Africa. It looks very similar to its close relative Rhus glauca but has larger leaflets.-References:...
and Rhus glauca
Rhus glauca
Rhus glauca is a small tree or bush that is commonly found along the coastline of southern Africa. Although commonest near the coast, it is also found inland among fynbos vegetation....
; succulents such as Sour figs (Carpobrotus acinaciformis and Carpobrotus edulis) and Mesembryanthemum
Mesembryanthemum
Mesembryanthemum is a genus of plants native to southern Africa. Many species which were formerly placed herein have since been moved into other genera such as Carpobrotus Sceletium is sometimes included here....
species; Restio
Restio
Restio is the name of a group of plants within the Restionaceae. Many species formerly included within the Restio genus are now classified into a number of other genera including Acion, Baloskion and Eurychorda....
s; herbs such as geraniums and a great variety of daisies (Senecio elegans
Senecio elegans
Senecio elegans is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names wild cineraria, purple ragwort, and redpurple ragwort. It is native to southern Africa, and it is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its colorful flowers...
, Senecio burchellii, Dimorphotheca pluvialis and many others).
Larger trees that are indigenous to coastal Strandveld include:
- The Milkwood (Sideroxylon inermeSideroxylon inermeSideroxylon inerme is a Southern African coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, dainty white flowers. The tree's formal name means "Iron-wood" in Greek, referring to its very hard timber....
) - Sea Guarri (Euclea racemosaEuclea racemosaEuclea racemosa is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree that is indigenous to the coastal areas of South Africa....
) - Cape Camphor treeTarchonanthus camphoratusTarchonanthus camphoratus , is a shrub or small tree, native to eastern and Southern Africa and Arabia....
(Tarchonanthus camphoratusTarchonanthus camphoratusTarchonanthus camphoratus , is a shrub or small tree, native to eastern and Southern Africa and Arabia....
) - The Candlewood (Pterocelastrus tricuspidatusPterocelastrus tricuspidatusPterocelastrus tricuspidatus is a medium-sized evergreen tree, indigenous to South Africa....
) - The Wild OliveOlea europaea subsp. cuspidataOlea europaea subsp. cuspidata is a subspecies of olive previously described as Olea cuspidata and Olea africana. It is has various local common names, including African olive, wild olive, iron tree, Indian olive or zambujeiro da India....
(Olea europea subsp. africanaOlea europaea subsp. cuspidataOlea europaea subsp. cuspidata is a subspecies of olive previously described as Olea cuspidata and Olea africana. It is has various local common names, including African olive, wild olive, iron tree, Indian olive or zambujeiro da India....
) - The Coastal Silkybark (Robsonodendron maritimumRobsonodendron maritimumRobsonodendron maritimum is a small, shrubby, evergreen tree that is indigenous to the coastal regions of South Africa....
)
There are also endemic plant species such as Lampranthus
Lampranthus
Lampranthus is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae. All are succulent plants.One of the species in this genus is L. roseus, the mini ice plant.-Reproduction:...
tenuifolius.
The most similar vegetation types to CFDS are Langebaan Dune Strandveld and Overberg Dune Strandveld.
See also
- Biodiversity of Cape TownBiodiversity of Cape Town- Floristic region :The city of Cape Town lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom . - Vegetation types :...
- Cape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand FynbosCape Flats Sand Fynbos , previously known as Sand Plain Fynbos, is a critically endangered vegetation type that occurs only within the city of Cape Town, including the Cape Flats district. Less than 1% of this unique lowland Fynbos vegetation is conserved.-Description:This is the richest and most...
- Cape Lowland Freshwater WetlandCape Lowland Freshwater WetlandCape Lowland Freshwater Wetland is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa.-Environment:This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater floodplains, along the lower stretches of rivers and...
- 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.