Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Institution Code: NBG
BGCI Member: Yes
About the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Parastatal organisation (SANBI) under the national Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF). This garden has a focus on native ecosystems.
Main Address:
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Private Bag X7
Claremont, Cape Town
Western Cape 7735 South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0)21 799 8899
Fax: +27 (0)21 797 6570
URL: www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch
Primary Email: Kirstenboschinfo@sanbi.org.za
Reintroduction of the Whorl Heath – Erica verticillata in South Africa
Regarded as Extinct in the Wild by 1950, Erica verticillata used to grow in Cape Flats Sand Fynbos in South Africa. Thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of a few botanic gardens and some dedicated collectors and growers, the search for ex situ collections of E. verticillata began and eight clones have been discovered. The process of reinducing the whorl heath in situ has presented a number of challenges.
Regarded as extinct in the wild by the second half of the 20th century, Erica verticillata used to grow in Cape Flats Sand Fynbos on the lowlands of the Cape Peninsula from the Black River to Zeekoevlei in South Africa. Thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of a few botanic gardens and some dedicated collectors and growers, the search for ex situ collections of E. verticillata began, becoming an exercise in detective work. To date, eight confirmed collections have been found three of which have been used in reintroduction efforts.
The rediscovery of E. verticillata excited interest amongst conservationists to attempt reintroduction to its natural habitat. The process of restoring the whorl heath presented many challenges. Initially, attempts were hampered by limited available knowledge on suitable niche habitats. A further trial to establish this species in natural habitat was made in the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area (KRCA) regarded as the best and least disturbed example of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos remaining on the southern suburbs of Cape Town. In 2004, 100 plants comprising two clones of E. verticillata were planted in a seasonally wet depression where another highly endangered and endemic Erica, E. margaritacea, grows. Introduced in mature vegetation to protect them from the summer heat and wind, the plants have survived and flower profusely every year. Seedlings have been observed in open patches near the parent plants.
Cape Nature organized a control burn in an adjacent section of the KRCA in March 2005 after which further saplings grown in unigro plugs were planted in the burnt but moist area. Another planting was established on the eastern-end of the KRCA using plants in 1kg bags. This area was also burnt, but was more protected by sprouting grasses. The plants in unigro plugs all died during the hot, dry summer probably because they were too exposed to the desiccating summer winds and summer heat. The main lesson learnt when reintroducing nursery grown plants to a natural habitat is the value of the supporting vegetation structure as protective nurse plants. However, in a natural system after fire seedlings will germinate and being much smaller get protection from the emerging vegetation around them.