|
Fauna and flora have found a paradise in
South Africa, and a visit to this beautiful country isn’t
complete without a chance to see the exotic plant life. South
Africa is in fact known as the home of over 20,000 different
types of plants, which include about ten percent of all the
known species of plant life on our planet. South Africa is very
rich in its plant biodiversity.
The most prevalent type of plant area in Soiuth Africa is
grassland. Plant cover in the Highveld area for instance is
primarily various grasses, acacia tress and many low shrubs. The
tress tend to be camel thorn and whitethorn. Plant life is
sparse in the northeastern part of the country since the
rainfall tends to be low. The area does however have many
species of succulents and aloes which store water in the hot,
dry area. The grass and thorn savannah slowly becomes a bush
savanna in the northeast and there is denser growth in this area
with large numbers of baobab tress. This is particularly true in
the north end of famous Kruger National Park.
In a small region of the Western Cape lies one of the six floral
kingdoms, the Fynbos Biome. This area has over 9,000 species of
ants, making it one of the richest regions on the planet when it
comes to floral diversity. Most of these plants are evergreen
hard leaf, and have fine, needle like leaves. One of these is
the well known sclerophyllous plant. Another plant that is
uniquely and unmistakably South African is the protea genus.
These are flowering plants and South Africa has about 130
different species of these.
One type of area that South Africa lacks as a flora and fauna
habitat is forestland. Only about one percent of South Africa is
forest, and that is almost totally in the humid coastal plan on
the Indian Ocean side in the area of KwaZulu-Natal. There are
montane forests, smaller forest areas out of the reach of fire
also. There are however plantations of imported species of
trees. The eucalyptus and pine area popular thought not native
to South Africa they thrive.
Unfortunately, due to overpopulation South Africa has lost much
of the natural habitat it once had. Sprawling urban development
and needing places for people to live have taken their toll.
Also alien species including Black Wattle, Port Jackson,
Lantana, Hakea and Jacaranda have posed a threat to the natural
species of pants and the biodiversity, especially because of
scare water sources. European settlers to South Africa were
originally greeted by a temperate forest, but it was exploited
by settlers and now only small parts of it remain. Hardwood
trees like Real Yellowood, stinkwood and Black Ironwood are
species protected by government regulation.
It is easy to see from the rich diversity that anyone interested
in plant life would find South Africa a fascinating place. Just
one more reason to visit the beautiful and friendly nation of
South Africa. |
|
Fauna and flora in south africa |
|
 |
|
Proteas are
the poster species for fynbos (pronounced fane-boss).
They are indigenous evergreen shrubs with large showy
flower heads prized by florists and plant collectors all
over the world. The king protea is South Africa's
national flower |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
