Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

A POR TR AIT OF SOUTH AFRIC A  31

Erica patersonia Protea grandiceps is
is one of over 625 one of the most
erica species that widely distributed
occur in the of its genus. It
Southwestern grows at the
Cape. It is higher altitudes
mainly found of coastal
along streams. mountains.
Pincushion proteas bloom
from June to December
in colours ranging from
yellow to deep red. The Ericas are found Yellow pincush ­
flower heads last for up to on Table Moun­ ion proteas
three weeks and attract tain, where Erica grow as a tall
sunbirds and insects. dichrus provides shrub that is
dense red splashes found near
of colour. the coast.
Bushveld
Large tracts of the interior are covered with tall grasses
and low trees, most of them decid uous, fine­leaved
and thorny. The Kruger National Park (see pp340–45)
is an excellent example of several transitional types
occurring between sparse shrub and savannah; here
shrubs grow densely and larger tree types include
marula, mopane and baobab. The many acacia
species are characterized by pod­bearing
trees and shrubs with clusters of
small, golden­yellow flowers.
“Weeping boerbean” pod
High Mountain
Mountain flora, zoned according to altitude and
increasing severity of the environment, rises from
dense heath to mixed scrub and grasses. A
relatively small subalpine belt, 2,800 m (9,000 ft)
above sea level, is confined to the Drakensberg
region (see pp274–5). Characteristic flowering
plants here are helichrysum (“everlast ings”),
sedges and ericas. In many areas, annuals
make brief, colourful spring appearances.
Among the pro teas growing in this region
is the rare snow protea on the high peaks
Watsonia of the Cederberg (see pp218–19).
Subtropical Coastal Belt
Brackish swamps, saline estuaries and lush plant
growth are characteristic of the KwaZulu­Natal
coast. Mangroves anchor themselves to their
unstable habitat with stilt­like roots, while
higher up on the banks grow palms and the
broad­leaved wild banana of the Strelitzia
genus. A good example of typical
East Coast vegetation can be
seen at Kosi Bay (see p301),
where swamps surround
lakes that are overgrown
with water lilies and reeds.
Dune forests and grasslands Water lily
are dotted with wild palms.

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