Cape Floral Region South Africa - 9600 Species of Plants

Located in the Cape Province, South Africa - made upvarious species-rich regions in the world. The species
of eight protected areas, covering 553 000 hectares.density in the Cape Floral Region is also among the
The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas forhighest in the world. It displays the highest levels of
plants in the world. It represents less than 0, 5% of theendemism at 31, 9% and it has been identified as one
area of Africa but is home to nearly 20% of theof the world's 18 biodiversity hot spots.
continent's flora! It takes up 0.04% of the world's landA stretch of land and sea spanning 90 000 square
area, yet contains 3% of its plant species, making itkilometres, the 553 000 hectare Cape Floral Region
one of the globe's 18 biodiversity hot spots.comprises eight protected areas stretching from the
The site displays outstanding ecological and biologicalCape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape: Table Mountain,
processes associated with the fib's vegetation, whichDe Hoop Nature Reserve, the Boland mountain
is unique to the Cape Floral Region. The outstandingcomplex, the Groot Winterhoek wilderness area, the
diversity, density and endemism of the flora are amongSwartberg mountains, the Boosmansbos wilderness
the highest worldwide. Unique plant reproductivearea, the Cederberg wilderness areas and
strategies, adaptive to fire, patterns of seed dispersalBaviaanskloof.
by insects, as well as patterns of endemism andKirstenbosch Botanical Garden on the slopes of Table
adaptive radiation found in the flora are of outstandingMountain is part of the region, making it the first
value to science.botanical garden ever include in a World Heritage Site.
The Cape Floral Region was inscribed in 2004 and isThe rich diversity of the Cape Floral Region contributes
situated in the Western and Eastern Cape. It is ato South Africa having the third-highest level of
natural heritage and was the sixth site to be inscribed.biodiversity in the world. Table Mountain National Park,
Justifications for inscriptions are:for example, has more species in its 22 000 hectares
The Cape Floral Region is considered of outstandingthan the British Isles or New Zealand.
universal value for representing ongoing ecological andThe Cape Floral Region is not only remarkable for its
biological processes associated with the evolution ofdiversity. The region's endemism level, at 31, 9%, is the
the unique funbos biome. These processes arehighest on the planet. Of the 9600 species of vascular
represented generally within the Cape Floral Regionplants (plants with vessels for bearing sap) found here,
and captured in the eight protected areas. Of particularsome 70% are endemic, occurring nowhere else on
scientific interest are the plant reproductive strategiesearth.
including the adaptive responses to fire of the flora andIt is also home to 11 000 marine animal species, 3500
the patterns of seed dispersal by insects.of which are endemic, and 560 vertebrate species,
The pollination biology and nutrient cycling are otherincluding 142 reptile species, of which 27 are endemic.
distinctive ecological processes found in the site. TheThe region follows the Cape fold belt of mountains, the
Cape Floral Region forms a centre of activeCedarberg and Hottentots Holland mountains, then cuts
speciation where interesting patterns of endemism andthrough the Langeberg, Outeniquas, Tsitsikamma,
adaptive radiation are found in the flora.Swartberg and Zuurberg mountains, encompassing
The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas forkey sections of the Cape floral kingdom, the smallest
plants than for any similar sized area in the world. Theand richest of the world's six floral kingdoms - and the
number of species per genus within the region 9 in 1only one to be contained within one country.
and per family 52 are among the highest given for