Natural Vegetation Flashcards
What are indigenous plants?
Plants which grow naturally in an area
What do we call plants which grow naturally in an area?
Indigenous plants
What 3 things does the type of natural vegetation which grows in an area depend on?
- the temperatures
- the amount of rain
- the time of year in which the rain falls
Where do forests grow naturally?
Where there is over 800mm of rain in a year
What are 2 facts about short grasses?
They need some rain, and can survive frost
What are 2 facts of long grasses?
They need more rain, and are more sensitive to frost
What are the natural vegetation of the savannah grasslands?
Grass and scattered thorn trees such as baobab trees
Where do we find grasslands in South Africa?
On the plateau and other higher ground
What bush is indigenous to the Karoo?
Karoo bush
How does the Karoo bush store water?
It stores water in it’s stems and leaves so that they can go for long periods without rain.
Why does the Karoo bush need to be able to store water?
There is not a lot of rain in the Karoo, so the vegetation goes for long periods without water.
Where is fynbos indigenous to?
The south western part of the Western Cape.
What is the climate like in the south western part of the Western Cape?
Hot dry summers and cool wet winters
What trees are found in an indigenous forest?
Yellowwood and ironwood