Peninsula Granite Fynbos
Encyclopedia
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 tree
s. It can be found all along the belt of granite
that encircles Table Mountain
.
, particularly in a band that encircles the Table Mountain
range – following the stratum of the Cape Granite Suite. It occurs from Lion's Head
in the north, to Hout Bay
and Muizenberg
in the south. There is also an isolated patch near Simonstown, further to the south.
It grows on the gentler, lower slopes of Table Mountain, over rolling hills and valleys - in rich, deep soils formed from eroded granite. Because of the rich soils and gentle terrain, most of this ecosystem has been destroyed to make way for vineyards, wealthy suburb
s and commercial pine plantations. In fact, the largest patches of exposed granite soils are at Newlands
, Wynberg Hill and Constantia
, and these are all areas that have been developed for housing, farmed, or planted with invasive pine trees.
(daisy
) and Proteoid
(protea
) species, although Erica
and restio
species become more dominant in wetter patches.
There are two distinct subtypes of this vegetation: the especially endangered South Peninsula Granite Fynbos which grows on the more lush southern and eastern slopes, and North Peninsula Granite Fynbos which dominates the drier northern and western slopes.
A striking feature of this vegetation is the presence of massive, tree-like Protea
s such as the groves of Waboom trees
(Protea nitida
) which grow in the northern section, the famous Silvertrees
(Leucadendron argenteum
) which dominate the wetter southern and eastern slopes, and the endemic Grey Tree Pincushion Protea
(Leucospermum conocarpodendron
) which covers the drier western slopes. Tall, dense, indigenous Afromontane Forest
(a very different vegetation type) takes over from fynbos in any areas that are protected from seasonal fires, especially in river valleys and wetter areas.
Peninsula Granite Fynbos used to support a great many wild animals but the larger game is now mostly locally extinct.
(especially Blackwood, but also Black Wattle
and Stinkbean) and Pine
s. In fact, much of the remnants of this endangered vegetation type are still beneath large commercial pine plantations. However, apart from the main two, there are a great many other invasive plant species – both trees and smaller plants. This is actually one of the most severely invaded of all vegetation types in South Africa.
Another threat is the prevention of the seasonal fires that naturally sweep the area every few years, replenishing and revitalising the vegetation. Without the fires, the fynbos plants grow old and die, and their seeds cannot germinate. The areas of dense Afrotemperate forest
then expand and replace the fynbos.
Some of the plants that are endemic to this vegetation type and occur nowhere else are:
A related vegetation type is Boland Granite Fynbos
, a vulnerable fynbos type that occurs to the east.
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 type which is endemic 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...
and occurs nowhere else. It is a unique type of tall, dense and diverse scrubland, scattered with tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s. It can be found all along the belt of granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
that encircles Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
.
Natural Distribution
This unique vegetation type occurs only within the city of Cape TownCape 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...
, particularly in a band that encircles the Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
range – following the stratum of the Cape Granite Suite. It occurs from Lion's Head
Lion's Head
Lion's Head may refer to:* Lion's Head , South African mountain*Lion's Head, Ontario*Lion's Head Provincial Park, a provincial park near Lion's Head, Ontario* Lion's head , a meatball and cabbage dish in Chinese Huaiyang cuisine...
in the north, to Hout Bay
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town...
and Muizenberg
Muizenberg
Muizenberg is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the east on the False Bay coast...
in the south. There is also an isolated patch near Simonstown, further to the south.
It grows on the gentler, lower slopes of Table Mountain, over rolling hills and valleys - in rich, deep soils formed from eroded granite. Because of the rich soils and gentle terrain, most of this ecosystem has been destroyed to make way for vineyards, wealthy suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s and commercial pine plantations. In fact, the largest patches of exposed granite soils are at Newlands
Newlands 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...
, Wynberg Hill and Constantia
Constantia, Cape Town
Constantia is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, situated about 15 kilometres south of the centre of Cape Town. The Constantia Valley lies to the east of and at the foot of the Constantiaberg mountain. Constantia Nek is a low pass linking to Hout Bay in the west.-History:Constantia is...
, and these are all areas that have been developed for housing, farmed, or planted with invasive pine trees.
Description
Peninsula Granite Fynbos is dominated by AsteraceousAsteraceae
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...
(daisy
Bellis perennis
Bellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy. It is...
) and Proteoid
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,...
(protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
) species, although 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...
and restio
Restionaceae
Restionaceae, also called restiads, is the botanical name for a family of rush-like flowering plants native to the Southern Hemisphere.- Description :...
species become more dominant in wetter patches.
There are two distinct subtypes of this vegetation: the especially endangered South Peninsula Granite Fynbos which grows on the more lush southern and eastern slopes, and North Peninsula Granite Fynbos which dominates the drier northern and western slopes.
A striking feature of this vegetation is the presence of massive, tree-like Protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
s such as the groves of Waboom trees
Protea nitida
Protea nitida is a large, slow-growing Protea endemic to South Africa. It is one of the few Proteas that grow into trees, and the only one that has usable timber.-Appearance:...
(Protea nitida
Protea nitida
Protea nitida is a large, slow-growing Protea endemic to South Africa. It is one of the few Proteas that grow into trees, and the only one that has usable timber.-Appearance:...
) which grow in the northern section, the famous 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:...
) which dominate the wetter southern and eastern slopes, and the endemic Grey Tree Pincushion Protea
Leucospermum conocarpodendron
Leucospermum conocarpodendron is the largest of the Pincushion Proteas . Their natural habitat is the area around Cape Town, in the Western Cape, South Africa....
(Leucospermum conocarpodendron
Leucospermum conocarpodendron
Leucospermum conocarpodendron is the largest of the Pincushion Proteas . Their natural habitat is the area around Cape Town, in the Western Cape, South Africa....
) which covers the drier western slopes. Tall, dense, indigenous Afromontane Forest
Southern Afrotemperate Forest
Southern Afrotemperate Forest is a kind of tall, shady, multi-layered indigenous South African forest.This is the main forest-type in the south-western part of South Africa, naturally extending from the Cape Peninsula in the west, as far as Port Elizabeth in the east...
(a very different vegetation type) takes over from fynbos in any areas that are protected from seasonal fires, especially in river valleys and wetter areas.
Peninsula Granite Fynbos used to support a great many wild animals but the larger game is now mostly locally extinct.
Threats and Vulnerable Species
Today the major threat to this endangered ecosystem is definitely from invasive alien plants. The two main invaders are WattlesBlack Wattle
Acacia mearnsii is a fast-growing leguminous tree native to Australia. Common names for it include Black Wattle, Acácia-negra , Australian Acacia, Australische Akazie , Swartwattel , Uwatela...
(especially Blackwood, but also Black Wattle
Black Wattle
Acacia mearnsii is a fast-growing leguminous tree native to Australia. Common names for it include Black Wattle, Acácia-negra , Australian Acacia, Australische Akazie , Swartwattel , Uwatela...
and Stinkbean) and Pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s. In fact, much of the remnants of this endangered vegetation type are still beneath large commercial pine plantations. However, apart from the main two, there are a great many other invasive plant species – both trees and smaller plants. This is actually one of the most severely invaded of all vegetation types in South Africa.
Another threat is the prevention of the seasonal fires that naturally sweep the area every few years, replenishing and revitalising the vegetation. Without the fires, the fynbos plants grow old and die, and their seeds cannot germinate. The areas of dense Afrotemperate forest
Southern Afrotemperate Forest
Southern Afrotemperate Forest is a kind of tall, shady, multi-layered indigenous South African forest.This is the main forest-type in the south-western part of South Africa, naturally extending from the Cape Peninsula in the west, as far as Port Elizabeth in the east...
then expand and replace the fynbos.
Some of the plants that are endemic to this vegetation type and occur nowhere else are:
- Leucadendron grandiflorum (The Wynberg Conebush, a tall proteaProteaceaeProteaceae 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,...
that is now extinct) - Hermannia micrantha (Small-flowered Dolls Rose, a flowering shrub)
- Gnidia parvula (Small-flowered Saffron Bush, a low shrub)
- Cliffortia carinata (Crown Climbers Friend)
- Polycarena silenoides (Granite Cape Flax, a small herb)
- Erepsia patula (The Spreading Ever-fig, a succulent shrub)
- Lampranthus curvifolius (Bakoven Brightfig, succulent)
- Aristea pauciflora (The Unistem Aristea, a geophytic herb)
- Willdenowia affinis (The Table Mountain Window Reed, a graminoid)
A related vegetation type is Boland Granite Fynbos
Boland Granite Fynbos
Boland Granite Fynbos is a vulnerable Fynbos vegetation type that occurs in the Western Cape, South Africa.Located in the “Boland” region of the Western Cape, to the north-east of the city of Cape Town, this fynbos has 23 known endemic species that occur nowhere else...
, a vulnerable fynbos type that occurs to the east.
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 Sandstone FynbosPeninsula Sandstone FynbosPeninsula Sandstone Fynbos is a unique and endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town. This type of Mountain Fynbos occurs on very poor, acidic soils but is incredibly rich in biodiversity with an enormous number of plant species – many of which occur nowhere else...
- Index: Fynbos
- Table MountainTable MountainTable Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
- Newlands ForestNewlands forestNewlands 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...
- Cecilia ParkCecilia ParkCecilia Park is a stretch of land on the lower eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, located just to the south of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens....