De Hoop forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom

De Hoop forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom

De Hoop Nature Reserve forms part of the world’s smallest and most threatened plant kingdom - the Cape Floral Kingdom. Fynbos is the dominant vegetation within this kingdom - largely confined to nutrient-poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape.

Fynbos is adapted to fire and drought, and characterized by four growth forms:

1. Proteas - tall shrubs with large leaves

2. Ericas - heath-like shrubs

3. Restios - wiry, reed-like plants which are always present in fynbos

4. Geophytes - bulbs that store moisture in fleshy underground organs

De Hoop is important for the conservation of lowland fynbos as it contains the largest conserved area for this rare type.

The Bredasdorp/Agulhas and Infanta area, which De Hoop is a part of, has an estimated 1500 plant species of the approximately 9000 species found in the Cape Floristic Region.

Of these 1500 species:

• 108 Species are rare or threatened.

• 34 Species occur only on De Hoop Nature Reserve and nowhere else.

• 14 Species were recently discovered and are still undescribed.