What is Fynbos Biome?
Fynbos is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean climate and rainy winters.
Where Is Fynbos Biome Found In South Africa
Western Cape
Fynbos vegetation can be found throughout Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa. Although the Fynbos is known for its plants, the region is also home to a diverse number of unique animal species.
Is fynbos only found in South Africa?
Fynbos (which means “fine-leaved plants”) is an extraordinary type of vegetation that occurs solely on the southern tip of Africa.
Why is the fynbos biome important to South Africa?
Fynbos-covered mountains are responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa.
Some of the wettest places in the country are wild, soggy mountain tops covered in rare proteas. Fynbos allows up to 80% of the rainwater to run off and fill our rivers and reservoirs.
What are the five characteristics of fynbos biome?
The Fynbos region also contains other distinctive vegetation types, including renosterveld (shrubland on clayey soils), patches of Afromontane forest, and various types of thicket.
This area is characterized by hot, dry summers, high-speed winds, intense recurring fires, and soils that are low in nutrients.
What type of soil is found in the fynbos?
aeolian sand
The soil is deep aeolian sand over granite or shale. The riverine habitat can be seen in the background. The fynbos on the mountains in the background will be similar in appearance, but much richer in species and with more ericoid shrubs.