{"id":2323,"date":"2022-07-27T17:56:58","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T17:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2024-07-09T09:41:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T09:41:50","slug":"indigenous-plantlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wandercapetown.com\/local-knowledge\/indigenous-plantlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Town\u2019s indigenous plantlife | Local flora and conservation efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Cape Town is one of the most biodiverse cities in the world, and is at the centre of the world\u2019s smallest and richest plant kingdom. The Cape Floristic Region contains over 9000 plant species, and 70% of these are found nowhere else on earth (i.e. they\u2019re endemic)! Table Mountain National Park<\/a> alone has more recorded plant species than the entire British Isles – and new species are still being discovered<\/a>.<\/p>

Because of the unique richness of its indigenous flora (species that occur in an area naturally, and were not brought in by people from other areas), the Cape Floristic Region is recognised as a World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot.<\/p>

What is indigenous flora?<\/h2>

The term \u2018indigenous\u2019 is applied to any plant that originates in a particular area. In the context of Cape Town\u2019s flora, this means a species occurred here naturally before humans started introducing new species from other parts of the world. Non-indigenous plants have been brought to the city for food, shade or other purposes, or have accidentally arrived through transportation via ships and other means. Another word for \u2018indigenous\u2019 is \u2018native\u2019.<\/p>

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The six floral kingdoms of the world. Source: Friends of Tokai Park<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Why is it important to protect our local native flora?<\/h2>

The Cape Peninsula, where the city of Cape Town is located, is unique even for the highly diverse Cape Floral Kingdom. This is because the region has a wide range of topography, from flat plains and gentle hills and steep ridges, as well as geology, soils and even micro-climates.<\/p>

All of these factors determine where plant species grow. Over hundreds of thousands of years, indigenous plants have developed different structures to adapt to these different environments and compete for limited space, nutrients and water. Because of the diversity of conditions, the Cape Peninsula has over 20 different vegetation types<\/a> with unique assemblages of species. For example, the species growing on the top of Table Mountain are different to those growing along the coastal sand dunes and plains.<\/p>

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Sickleleaf conebush growing above the Blockhouse Trail. Photo by Tony Rebelo<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Endangerment and extinction<\/h3>

Unfortunately for the native species of Cape Town, the city has rapidly expanded and sprawled since the start of the 20th century. Most of the vegetation types are now threatened, meaning many endemic plant species are facing risk of extinction. Already 39 plant species in South Africa are confirmed to be extinct, with many of these being from Cape Town.<\/p>

Hundreds more are evaluated as vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered or extinct in the wild. Many critically endangered vegetation types in Cape Town are conserved in very small areas. For example, the Cape Flats Sand Fynbos vegetation type has only 1% of its area protected, with 86% of the land already transformed and developed.<\/p>

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The historic vs. current extent of vegetation types in Cape Town. Source: <\/em>City of Cape Town bioregional plan<\/em><\/a><\/p>

It is important for Capetonians to recognise the uniqueness of the flora that surrounds them. While most of the large mammals that used to roam the peninsula, including lions, quaggas and hyenas, no longer reside here, there is still an opportunity to conserve many of the plants that call Cape Town home, and that cannot survive in the wild anywhere else.<\/p>

It is part of the city\u2019s cultural heritage, and adds to the intrinsic beauty of the peninsula\u2019s scenic mountains, coastlines, wetlands and plains. All species also play a role in supporting insects, birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. They too are at risk of local extinction if their ecosystems fall apart or disappear. In addition, many indigenous plants are of medicinal value. There has also been much research demonstrating the mental and social benefits of urban green spaces on the communities living within cities.<\/p>

So what can you do? I’ll go into more detail below<\/a>, but in short, you can:<\/p>