Erica turgida
Encyclopedia
Erica turgida is a species of erica
that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town
, South Africa
, but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild
.
This small, delicate erica produces thin, willowy stems, covered in velvety hair. It produces masses of bright-pink, cup-shaped flowers.
This Erica used to grow naturally in the area that is now beneath the Cape Town
suburbs of Rondebosch
, Kenilworth
and Wynberg.
It was therefore an endemic to the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
vegetation type.Soon before the last wild population died out at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
, a woman named Elsie Esterhuizen took cuttings to Kirstenbosch gardens and thus saved the species from permanent extinction.
Along with its fellow extinct-in-the-wild heath, Erica verticillata
, it is now being re-introduced to the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area, now that the spread of the invasive alien vegetation there has been controlled.
Erica
Erica ,the heaths or heathers, is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names "heath" and "heather" are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance....
that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town
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...
, 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...
, but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
.
This small, delicate erica produces thin, willowy stems, covered in velvety hair. It produces masses of bright-pink, cup-shaped flowers.
This Erica used to grow naturally in the area that is now beneath the Cape Town
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...
suburbs of Rondebosch
Rondebosch
Rondebosch is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. It is primarily a residential suburb, with a medium-size shopping area, a small business district as well as the main campus of the University of Cape Town.-History:...
, Kenilworth
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
and Wynberg.
It was therefore an endemic to the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
Cape 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...
vegetation type.Soon before the last wild population died out at Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area
Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area is small nature reserve, situated in the centre of Kenilworth Racecourse, in Cape Town, South Africa...
, a woman named Elsie Esterhuizen took cuttings to Kirstenbosch gardens and thus saved the species from permanent extinction.
Along with its fellow extinct-in-the-wild heath, Erica verticillata
Erica verticillata
Erica verticillata is a species of erica that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild.-Distribution:It formerly grew only in certain areas of the Cape Flats on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa....
, it is now being re-introduced to the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area, now that the spread of the invasive alien vegetation there has been controlled.
See also
- Erica verticillataErica verticillataErica verticillata is a species of erica that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild.-Distribution:It formerly grew only in certain areas of the Cape Flats on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa....
- 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...
- Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation AreaKenilworth Racecourse Conservation AreaKenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area is small nature reserve, situated in the centre of Kenilworth Racecourse, in Cape Town, South Africa...
- Biodiversity of Cape TownBiodiversity of Cape Town- Floristic region :The city of Cape Town lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom . - Vegetation types :...