Fynbos in South Africa

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.

Their presence as the dominant group in the Western Cape led to this plant community being referred to as the Fynbos ( Afrikaans, ' fine bush ') community A few species have spread into southeast Asia, and there is a single South American species.

Aspects of the life history of Haemanthus pubescens were examined in the fire-prone Mediterranean climate zone of Lowland Coastal Fynbos in South Africa.

* Fynbos ( South Africa )

The vegetation on psamments varies enormously owing to the variety of climates, but in many cases is remarkably well-adapted to the climate, as with the Fynbos of the Cape region in South Africa-famous for its remarkable biodiversity and the equally species-rich Kwongan of southwestern Western Australia.

Fynbos shrublands occur in a small belt across South Africa.

Fynbos in South Africa

* Fynbos in South Africa

The hills are clad in heather and bracken, but botanically they are more closely related to the Fynbos ( fine bush ) of South Africa ’ s Western Cape Province than the Highlands of Scotland.

Thus, although the Fynbos comprises only 6 % of the area of southern Africa, it has half the species on the subcontinent – and in fact has almost 1 in 5 of all plant species in Africa.

The main type of fynbos (" fine bush ") vegetation at the Cape of Good Hope is Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, an endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula.

Coastal Hangklip Sand Fynbos grows on low-lying alkaline sands and, right by the sea, small patches of Cape Flats Dune Strandveld can be found.

Its vegetation consists predominantly of several different types of the unique and rich Cape Fynbos.

The main vegetation type is endangered Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, but critically endangered Peninsula Granite Fynbos, Peninsula Shale Renosterveld and Afromontane forest occur in smaller portions on the mountain.

The Fynbos ecoregion is within the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome.

Fynbos – which grows in a 100-to-200-km-wide coastal belt stretching from Clanwilliam on the West coast to Port Elizabeth on the Southeast coast – forms part of the Cape floral kingdom, where it accounts for half of the surface area and 80 % of the plant varieties.

Around 30 % of plants in the Fynbos produce seeds with an elaiosome which attract ants that carry the seeds into their burrows.

The Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld experiences regular winter rainfall, especially to the west of Cape Agulhas.

The Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld is the area above 300 m, a total of 45, 000 km2 of the Cape Fold Mountains.

Fynbos areas are also threatened by the spread of alien species, in particular wattle and acacia species from Australia, as well as pine plantations in the Cape Fold hills.

Fynbos areas are a popular attraction for tourists, especially in the vicinity of Cape Town, and are also important recreational areas for locals.

The Cape Sugarbird is found in Fynbos and has also moved into gardens and nurseries.

The northern slopes overlooking the city centre are covered in typical Cape Peninsula Shale Fynbos.

The predominant vegetation is Mediterranean Fynbos in the wetter south and west, changing to semi desert scrub in the north and east.

The vegetation at Cape Point consists primarily of Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos.

The Orange-breasted Sunbird ( Nectarinia violacea ) is exclusively found in Fynbos vegetation.

The bontebok has two subspecies ; the endangered bontebok ( Damaliscus pygargus pygarus ), occurring naturally in the Fynbos and Renosterveld areas of the Western Cape, and the blesbok ( Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi ) occurring in the highveld.

Blesbok live in highveld, where they eat short grasses, while bontebok are restricted to coastal Fynbos and Renosterveld.

The Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma indigenous forests are a unique mixture of Cape Fynbos and Temperate Forest and offer hiking trails and eco-tourism activities.

* St. Sebastian, Heathland, Wokingham, Berkshire, 1864

Heathland is found at Wrights Lookout and in other patches.

File: Wadbilliga2 heathland. JPG | Wadbilliga Track & Heathland

This park is one of the few protected places of Open Woodland / Low Heathland in the area.

Away from the coastal area, much of the physical geography is " Geest " and Heathland.

Heathland Centre at Lygra ( Lyngheisenteret på Lygra ) is a cultural museum consisting of a conserved heather moorland.

Heathland was founded by the University of Bergen, Bergen County, Lindås Municipality, the Regional Council in Nordhordland and Gulen.

Heathland dominates the landscape.

Heathland farming died out at the end of the 19th century.

Heathland is favoured where climatic conditions are typically warm and dry, particularly in summer, and soils acidic, of low fertility, and often sandy and very free-draining ; mires do occur where drainage is poor, but are usually only small in extent.

Heathland is very rare throughout Europe and the Petersfield Heath is a typical heathland mosaic of many micro habitats.

The Minsmere Crimson Underwing, first found in the UK at Minsmere in 2004 Heathland areas are particularly important for populations of Dartford Warbler and antlion and woodland areas are important for Nightingale populations.

The area around the summit is mainly Heathland, with Birch, Oak and Sweet Chestnut trees in the woods at the northern end.

Heathland habitat for Lycaena phlaeas.