CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM
Floral kingdoms are geographical areas with a relatively uniform composition of endemic plant species. In 1947, botanist Ronald Good divided the world into 6 different floral kingdoms. The boundaries between these kingdoms are usually not sharp, but rather a transitional area with overlap of species from both kingdoms.
BOREAL
North America, Europe, Northern-Central, Asia and North Africa
NEOTROPICAL
Caribbean Islands, Central America and
South America (excluding Patagonia)
PALEOTROPICAL
Tropical areas of Africa, Asia and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand)
AUSTRALIAN
Australia (including Tasmania)
ANTARCTIC
South of the 40°S latitude like Antarctica, Patagonia and most of New Zealand
SOUTH AFRICAN
South Africa (mostly the Western Cape province)
CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM
Within the borders of South Africa, almost solely in the Western Cape province, lies one of the 6 floral kingdoms of the world, the Cape Floral Kingdom. It has over 9000 different plant species, of which 69% can only be found here, creating the highest concentration of plant species in the world. It boasts some 1300 plant species per 1 million ha, while the South American rainforest has some 400 species per 1 million ha. In order to protect this natural wealth, this kingdom contains 13 areas which are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8.600.000 ha
land size
9.000+
species
69%
endemic
7%
land of South Africa
33%
species of South Africa
0.3%
land of Africa
20%
species of Africa
0.06%
land of the world
3%
species of the world
1.700+
threatened species
3.000+
concerned species
VEGETATION
The entire Cape Floral Kingdom contains 4 different biomes – a geographical area with specific climate, vegetation and animal life – but the Fynbos biome is by far the largest in size (80%) and most species rich in the kingdom. Besides plant species from the Fynbos biome, you can also find species from the Succulent Karoo, Albany Thicket and Forest biome in this Kingdom.
FOREST BIOME
This is the smallest of the biomes in South Africa, covering less than 1% of its land mass. Forest are characterized by a closed canopy and a rich underlayer of plants. In the south-western part of the kingdom, they are usually small patches that can be found in gorges and ravines. When you travel to the east, through the Garden Route, you will find larger areas of indigenous forest, including the largest; the Tsitsikamma forest. The forest richness and diversity also increases when travelling from south-west to east.
Although South Africa has a couple of different types of forest within the forest biome, in the Cape Floral Kingdom you will only find the Southern Afrotemperate Forest and the Southern Coastal Forest. Both these types are found from the Cape Peninsula in the west to the borders of the Eastern Cape province in the east. These forest types are dominated by Outeniqua Yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcatus), Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), White Milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme), Coast Silver-Oak (Brachylaena discolor) and Mountain Guarri (Euclea natalensis).
The area around Knysna and Tsitsikamma is considered the main center of diversity for these types of forest.
Common Wild Fig
White Milkwood
Butterspoon Tree
Real Yellowwood
White-Ironwood
Cape Beech
Mountain Guarri
Outeniqua Yellowwood
Coast Silver-Oak
Wild Almond
THICKET BIOME
Most of the Thicket biome can be found along the coastline of Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Within the Cape Floral Kingdom, these patches are located in the area around Oudtshoorn and the Baviaanskloof. This biome makes up some 3% of South Africa.
Thickets are dense groups of bushes and small trees. They are easily recognized as largely impenetrable shrubs, where many of the species have spines and are some 3m tall. Most species here produce berries, attracting fruit-eating birds such as Mousebirds, who disperse their seeds.
The Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra) – also known as Spekboom - is the dominant species within the biome. It can grow up to 6m tall and 200 years old. Other prominent species are Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis), Jade Plant (Crassula ovata), Gwarrie (Euclea undulata) and many species of the genus Euphorbia.
Elephant Bush
Coastal Turkeyberry
Bottlebrush Asparagus
Cape Honeysuckle
Num-Num
Jade Plant
Sweet Thorn
Gwarrie
Karoo Boerbean
Cape Aloe
SUCCULENT KAROO BIOME
The Succulent Karoo biome is, after the Fynbos biome, the second most diverse biome in South Africa. Over 6000 plant species make up this biome and 40% of them are endemic. It also has the richest succulent flora in the world. About one-third of all succulent plant in the world can be found here. When it comes to the Cape Floral Kingdom, the Succulent Karoo biome plays just a small part, mainly found in the Little Karoo region.
Many of the succulent plants in this kingdom have found ingenious ways of adapting to the arid conditions of the region, where summers are dry and hot, and winters are cold with below average rainfall. The succulent plants have fleshy leaves or stems, with a waxy coating to reduce transpiration, in which they can store water. Stone plants (Aizoaceae) have developed a translucent layer in their upper leaf to get enough sunlight in, but also protect them from harmful UV-rays. Other plants have spiral-shaped leaves in order to protect them from the wind and retain moisture.
The vegetation in this biome is dominated by the plant families of Aizoaceae (Stone Plants), Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family), Asteraceae (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and allies) and Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family).
Aizoaceae (Stone Plants)
These plants are called vygies in South Africa, meaning small fig, referring to the fruiting capsule that resembles the true fig. Worldwide, there are some 1800 different species in this family, of which 96% are endemic to the Succulent Karoo (the entire biome covers parts of South Africa and Namibia).
Cerochlamys pachyphylla
Antegibbaeum fissoides
Fishlips Humpfig
Rock Mesemb
Fig Buttons
Western Fingerfig
Robertson Tentfig
Eastern Buttons
Malephora uitenhagensis
Babybum Humpfig
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)
This is a diverse family of, usually, herbaceous plants, with succulent leaves and flowers that generally have 5 floral parts. Over 250 species can be found in South Africa, with one of the notable species being the Botterboom (Tylecodon paniculatus).
Botterboom
Crassula congesta
Buddha's Temple
Pagoda Mini-Jade
Sandy Stonecrop
Kebab Bush
Silver-Beads
Pig's Ear
Crassula hemisphaerica
Concertina Plant
Asteraceae (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and allies)
These herbaceous plants are widespread across the world and can also be found in a wide variety of habitats all. But most of them are found in desert or semi-desert climates. The common characteristic of these plants are compound flower heads (a cluster of flowers arranged on the stem of a main branch).
Alatoseta tenuis
Pteronia adenocarpa
Cape Snow Bush
Good Karoo
Bitterbush
Buchu Gumbush
Fine Felicia
Pteronia oblanceolata
Grey Everlasting
Lasiospermum brachyglossum
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)
The Euphorbias come in many different forms, such as herbs, shrubs, trees or succulents, but are always characterized by milky latex (often poisonous). The succulent species are mostly confined to Africa. Many species have thorns and spines and are often confused with cacti. Some 190 species can be found in South Africa.
Porcupine Vingerpol
Hook Barrelwort
Yellow Milkbush
Robertson Barrelwort
Common Vingerpol
Creeping Milkbush
Sweet Milkbush
Hedgehog Milkball
Thorn Noors
Teat Barrelwort
FYNBOS BIOME
The Fynbos biome is the largest within the Cape Floral Kingdom, covering some 80% of the area, and has by far the greatest diversity of plant species. Around 8000 plant species are found in this biome. The Fynbos biome is characterized by low-growing shrubs, heathlands and proteas, creating a beautiful carpet of colors and textures.
It can be divided into three vegetation groups; Fynbos, Renosterveld and Strandveld. Of these three, the Fynbos and Renosterveld are by far the largest. The Fynbos is usually found on the nutrient-poor mountains, whereas the Renosterveld is more at home on the fertile clay and silt soils of the lowlands. Strandveld is found closer to the seashore, but never in areas under direct influence of sea spray.
Fire is an important part in the life-cycle of the Fynbos and Renosterveld. Many of the plants germinate only after the intense heat of the fire, ideally in an interval of 10-15 years. If fires present themselves in the wrong season, or come too often, they can eliminate species. Besides fire, pollination is still very much a part of reproduction.
Fynbos
The Fynbos vegetation group is an evergreen shrubland that is characterized by the presence of more than 5% restios, a high coverage of ericoid shrubs and the common occurrence of proteas. In simple speak, members of the families of Restionaceae, Ericaceae and Proteaceae have to be present. Perhaps the most famous plant in the Fynbos biome is the national flower of South Africa; the King Protea (Protea cynaroides).
Restionaceae (Restiads)
This family is native to the southern hemisphere and can vary is size from just a few centimeters to 3m in height. These are reeds – although you might be mistaken them for grasses - with solid stems and no leaves. There are some 330 different species in the kingdom. Within the Fynbos biome, the restios play the part that the grasses play in other biomes.
Kouga Fountainreed
Broom Reed
Rustling Goldreed
Slender Goldreed
Bright Thatchreed
Bristly Pineapplereed
Hookers Goldreed
Sonqua Sunreed
Elephant Reed
Rocket Reed
Ericaceae (Heath family)
Almost all of the species of this family, in the Cape Floral Kingdom, can be found in the genus Erica. This genus has over 850 species worldwide, with almost 700 of them in the CFK. When these plants are not in bloom, it can be quite difficult to tell the species apart, but in bloom - as you can see below - they are very diverse and beautifully colored.
Baby Heath
Salt-and-Pepper Heath
Karos Heath
Bottle Green Heath
Gold Heath
Beauty Heath
Hangertjies
Peninsula Heath Complex
Purpletip Heath
Roughpetal Heath Complex
Proteaceae (Protea family)
Proteas are able to produce some of the most beautiful flowers. No wonder the King Protea is the national flower. These woody plants are usually found on mountain slopes and foothills that have nutrient-poor soils.
Grey Sugarbush
Swartkops Spiderhead
Golden Spiderhead
Rocket Pincushion
Arid Pincushion
King Protea
Clanwilliam Sugarbush
Common Sugarbush
Bokkeveld Sceptre
Wagon Tree
Renosterveld
This vegetation group is dominated by evergreen shrubs from the family Asteraceae, in particular the species Renosterbush (Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis). Besides these shrubs, there usually is an understorey of grasses and a high diversity of geophytes. Many families and genera of plants are shared between the Fynbos and Renosterveld – apart from geophytes - but very few species are shared between these two.
Grapple Everlasting
Ash Gumbush
Pale Everlasting
Nasty Resinbush
Pale Felicia
Giant Paraseed
Amphiglossa tomentosa
Heath Kapok
Beetle Daisy
Renosterbush
Strandveld
Strandveld vegetation are medium dense to closed shrublands. It shares vegetational features with the Fynbos, Renosterveld and even Succulent Karoo biome. Restios are a common element here and when the annuals bloom, many plants from the Asteraceae and Aizoaceae families show off their beautiful colors. Strandveld vegetation tends to be smaller in size closer to the sea shore, but can grow larger in sheltered places. Unlike Fynbos and Renosterveld, fire plays a smaller role in the Strandveld vegetation.
Rain Daisy
Sprawling Seacoral
Dune Everlasting
Brakslaai
Beach Gumbush
Coast Seacoral
Sandveld Ragwort
Sea fig
Star of the Veldt
Sally-my-handsome
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
In 2004, the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meaning that this is an area of outstanding universal value to humanity and that it should be protected for future generations.
At that time, they comprised of 8 protected areas, covering some 550.000 ha and were surrounded by 1.3 million ha of buffer zones. In 2015, this World Heritage Site extended to 13 protected areas, with its size now doubling to almost 1.1 million ha and a buffer zone of 800.000 ha. Parts of the previous buffer zones were now included into the protected areas. These buffer zones are not part of the World Heritage Site, but are adjacent to them and contribute in the protection and conservation of the actual World Heritage Site.
The 13 protected areas are mostly made up of nature reserves, national parks and wilderness areas. Whereas the buffer zones are usually privately owned land, mountain catchment areas or other sorts of protected areas. Not all of these areas are open to the public and in some cases the visitor numbers are limited in order to protect fragile areas.
ANYSBERG
NATURE RESERVE
79.629 ha
Anysberg Nature Reserve
DE HOOP
NATURE RESERVE
32.481 ha
De Hoop Nature Reserve
RIVIERONDEREND
NATURE RESERVE
26.630 ha
Rivieronderend Nature Reserve
TABLE MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL PARK
21.687 ha
Table Mountain National Park
CEDERBERG
COMPLEX
77.945 ha
Cederberg Wilderness Area
Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve
GROOT WINTERHOEK
COMPLEX
27.509 ha
Grootwinterhoek Wilderness Area
Grootwinterhoek Nature Reserve
AGULHAS
COMPLEX
24.159 ha
Agulhas National Park
Quoin Point Nature Reserve
Soetendalsvlei Nature Reserve
De Mond Nature Reserve
BAVIAANSKLOOF
COMPLEX
249.399 ha
Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area
Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve
Groendal Nature Reserve
HEXRIVIER
COMPLEX
22.641 ha
Wittebrug Nature Reserve
Fonteintjiesberg Nature Reserve
Ben-Etive Nature Reserve
Bokkeriviere Nature Reserve
GARDEN ROUTE
COMPLEX
176.998 ha
Garden Route National Park
Ruitersbos Nature Reserve
Doringsrivier Wilderness Area
Witfontein Nature Reserve
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
Keurboomsrivier Nature Reserve
Formosa Nature Reserve
Formosa Provincial Nature Reserve
LANGEBERG
COMPLEX
43.660 ha
Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
Witbosrivier Nature Reserve
Twistniet Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve
Bontebok National Park
Zuurberg Nature Reserve
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
Garcia Nature Reserve
Spioenkop Nature Reserve
Paardeberg Nature Reserve
Tygerberg Nature Reserve
SWARTBERG
COMPLEX
187.337 ha
Gamkapoort Nature Reserve
Groot Swartberg Nature Reserve
Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) Nature Reserve
Swartberg East Nature Reserve
Towerkop Nature Reserve
Paardenberg Nature Reserve
Rooiberg Nature Reserve
Groenfontein Nature Reserve
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Kammanassie Nature Reserve
BOLAND MOUNTAIN
COMPLEX
124.717 ha
Hawequa Nature Reserve
Theewaters Nature Reserve
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve
Groenlandberg Nature Reserve
Houwhoek Nature Reserve
Kogelberg Nature Reserve
Mt Hebron Nature Reserve
Waterval Nature Reserve
Voëlvlei Nature Reserve
Brandvlei Nature Reserve
Simonsberg Nature Reserve
Helderberg Nature Reserve
Kogelberg Sonchem Link Nature Reserve
Brodie Link Nature Reserve
Rooisand (Botrivier) Nature Reserve