Abstract
It is shown that there is a wide range of structural variation in the habit of the Arundineae and Ehrharteae of the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region (Cape Province, South Africa). Structural differences in the bases of the fynbos grasses have been classified into four groups: swollen, knotty tillering, weak and annual. Variation in the position of the innovation buds occurs with one group having basal perennating buds, implying that all the culm material is annual, while the second group has cauline innovation buds, leading to the development of a divaricate perennial herb. The recognition of caducous, mesic (orthophyllous) and sclerophyllous leaf blades is also possible, based on leaf morphology and anatomy. These variations in growth forms allow the classification of the Cape grasses into five guilds adapted for survival in the dense fynbos vegetation that develops between the well-spaced fires in these heathlands. The following guilds have been recognized: competition avoiders that grow on rock ledges and outcrops where competition from shrubby vegetation is reduced; reseeders, that survive the protracted interfire period as seed; geophytes, that survive this period as underground organs; coppicers, that survive as small plants; and competitors, that grow tall by means of cauline innovation buds, and so are able to compete with the shrubby heath vegetation.
Highlights
The southern and south-western parts of the Cape Province of South Africa possess a distinct flora, usually called the Cape Flora (Good 1974; Taylor 1978; Goldblatt 1978; Takhtajan 1986). Goldblatt (1978) delimited the geographical area of this flora, and called it the Cape Floristic Region, with the major vegetation type being ‘fynbos’
The leaf anatomy and morphology of grasses is very important taxonomically, but ecologically three leaf forms may be distinguished in the Cape Floristic Region (Figure 5)
Sclerenchyma tissue is abundant and may be either lignified or with cellulose walls (Figure 5F—I). This type of leaf appears to be analogous to the sclerophyllous leaves which are characteristic of the vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region, with vegetation growing on the nutrient-deficient sands of the mountains
Summary
The southern and south-western parts of the Cape Province of South Africa possess a distinct flora, usually called the Cape Flora (Good 1974; Taylor 1978; Goldblatt 1978; Takhtajan 1986). Goldblatt (1978) delimited the geographical area of this flora, and called it the Cape Floristic Region, with the major vegetation type being ‘fynbos’. Goldblatt (1978) delimited the geographical area of this flora, and called it the Cape Floristic Region, with the major vegetation type being ‘fynbos’ This region is virtually synonymous with the Fynbos Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1986). The Cape Poaceae show a remarkable diversity of habits, from the classical caespitose tussock grass to a complex growth form somewhat similar to a divaricate herbaceous plant These habits appear to be adapted to a range of habitats, both spatial and temporal, in the Cape Floristic Region. They may be highly informative on the ecology and selective restraints operative in the area, and show that these grasses ate closely integrated into this unique system, but they have received very little research attention. Nomenclature follows that of Gibbs Russell et al (1985), except for Pentaschistis, where the nomenclature of Linder & Ellis (1990) is followed
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