Burnt proteas begin the seeding process - 02:36 pm

05 May 2009

The fog had receded somewhat – or rather limited itself to sitting over the ocean completely and flitting around Lion’s Head so we went back to Devil’s Peak and walked further into the burnt area.


The extent of the fire is becoming ever more apparent. This entire peak is charred. A passing geologist told us where rocks had split because the fire was so intense. Fynbos species burn very intensely.

But despite the intensity, skeletons of plants are everywhere. Below us on the steep slope a group of protea heads glow in the sun. We headed down to have a closer look and saw how these plants reproduce.

The seeds are very evident – the seed heads finally open, triggered by the smoke of the fire.


The orange light of the late afternoon accentuates these golden seeds and it’s easy to see them where they’ve landed between the scree of the slope, ready to take hold. The resprouting plants, like the geraniums give splashes of green against the ash and have a head start against the seeds. The changing dominance between seeding plants and resprouters creates a patchiness that remains throughout the peninsula; the dynamics of which is incredibly tricky to figure out.


But these plants which cannot reproduce without the apparently destructive force of fire keeps our attention until the sun sets in spectacular fashion once again.

<< Previous entry | Next entry >>

Comments

1 posted at 03:36pm on 07 May, 2009 by Belinda Hingle

Magnificient images that capture the floral blaze of the beauty that springs forth after the flames - the intensity of the golden color of the seeds seem to reflect the radiant fiery energy of the sun.

2 posted at 04:01am on 08 May, 2009 by Admin

Thanks Belinda. I’ve seen these seeds lying around so often but hardly even seen them emerging from the seed heads like this. Perhaps I wasn’t looking closely enough. It was definitely worth getting covered in charcoal scrambling down to thos plants. Man, I love this biome!

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Type in the word shown above, in the space below