Natural vegetation Flashcards
What natural vegetation types are there in South Africa?
desert/semi-desert fynbos grassland succulent Karoo savannah forest thicket
What ___________ and ______________ of an area influence what plants and animals live naturally in that area.
physical features and climate
What does natural vegetation includes?
plants and trees that grow naturally, without the help of people
Forests grow naturally in the warm, wet parts of which region
KwaZulu-Natal
Are vines on farms natural vegetation?
No, because farmers have planted them and even irrigate the vines.
Are the fynbos on Table Mountain natural vegetation?
yes
Are the pine trees that were planted on Table Mountain natural vegetation?
No, it was planted there, does not grow there naturally.
What does it means when we say that South Africa’s vegetation is diverse?
It means there are many different kinds of vegetation. Today most of the natural vegetation has been replaced by farmland.
Which region does fynbos grow?
Western Cape
Name same fynbos plants
Proteas, ericas and restios
What weather conditions does fynbos need?
Hot, dry summers with fires and winters that are cold and wet.
Fynbos has leaves that are waxy or spiky, with hairs and tiny spikes, how does this help it to survive?
It stops them losing water when there is drought or high temperatures. Smoke from summer fires often makes the seeds start growing.
The Norther Cape desert conditions are?
Most of the year, it is dry and only small bushes and succulent plants survive the cold winters and hot summers. Succulunt plants in the Karoo store water in their fleshy leaves.
In the Karoo desert, when the rainfall is good, what can you expect?
Thousands of wild flowers bloom in spring and at the start of summer.
Which 2 regions have high average rainfall and warm conditions much of the year? Plants here need warmth and water to grow, which means that trees in both of these areas grow tall and strong into large forests.
Southern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal
