Population and Physiological Studies of selected Geophytics Species of Lowland Coastal Fynbos in the Southwestern Cape

Abstract

Population and physiological studies were conducted in coastal fynbos in the South-western Cape. Minor ecophysiological studies were also conducted such as the soil moisture content and pH. Two species, viz. Haemanthus pubescens L.f. subspecies fimbriata subspecies Pubescens and Sparaxis grandiflora (de la Roche) Ker. subspecies fimbriata (Lam) Goldbl were selected for the project. H. pubescens subsp. pubescens is a bulbous geophyte belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae and S.grandiflora subsp. fimbriata a cormous geophyte a member of the family Iridaceae. The species were classified either as a perennial geophyte with hysteranthous leaves or an annual geophyte with synathous leaves. Two sites were dermacated on the farm Klein Welmoed at Penhill and near the Blackheath industrial area for the project.