African Wildlife & Environment Issue 84 2023

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

LEFT Heeria argentea is a common and fairly widespread Rocky-outcrop species from the Hottentots Holland mountains north to the Cedarberg. RIGHT the thick corky bark of Maytenus oleoides protects it from fire; the older the tree the thicker the bark

Wetland and/or riverine specialists Over the eons, while sea levels rose and fell and climates changed from almost tropical to semi arid,‘wetland’ species persisted because they were able to migrate locally as their habitats changed. If you are a wetland species you are able to expand and/or contract your distribution following the expansion or contraction of your wetland environment. If you are a riverine specialist you simply migrate upstream or downstream as the climate fluctuates. In both cases you alter your distribution in space and time according to whether your preferred habitat expands or contracts. Some of the more notable CFR endemic wetland and/or riverine species are Brachylaena neriifolia, Metrosideros angustifolia, Laurophyllus capensis and/or Psoralea aphylla and P. pinnata (and the now many other more recently recognised species in the P. pinnata group). Two characteristic riverine trees are Metrosideros angustifolia (the Cape Gum because it is very closely related to Eucalyptus ) TOP and Brachylaena neriifolia that is dioecious (= has both male and female plants) RIGHT

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