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Home Home » PARKS AND GARDENS » Fernkloof Nature Reserve » Berzelia in flower at Fernkloof
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Berzelia in flower at Fernkloof

Berzelia in flower at Fernkloof
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  • Aspalathus acuminata subsp. acuminata stem-tip spines
  • Babiana ambigua
  • Berzelia in flower at Fernkloof
  • Bobartia indica
  • Centella triloba, varkoortjies
  • Ceratocaryum argenteum male plant
  • Cliffortia falcata
  • Cliffortia ruscifolia var. ruscifolia flowers
  • Cliffortia ruscifolia var. ruscifolia gall
  • Corymbium glabrum in dry summer heat
  • Dilatris pillansii in Fernkloof
  • Edmondia sesamoides
  • Elegia spathacea
  • Fernkloof Nature Reserve
  • Fynbos slopes
  • Ixia flexuosa
  • Leucospermum cordifolium at home

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Description

Personal space demands of robust plants tend to invade the lives of lesser neighbours. They receive shade, whether they need it or not. They may even fade as the sun disappears, when their brave long shoots sent beyond their normal size, can't reach. Longer roots or bigger root systems tend to win races to nutrients and moisture. Rough branches will whip defenceless neighbours in the wind.

The king of the jungle gets the lion's share. This universal rule, holds for every animal and plant. Humans apply civilisation varnish to mask the effect.

The will to live is demonstrated in a relentless competition in which all species participate. Losers find short or long term solutions or perish. They don't say: "Before I succumb to your dominance, I'll flower and my seed shall await your death by fire or age for the return of my clan!" They'll do just that to the best of their abilities.

Every ecological niche generates its own opportunities. Plants thrive on cross-species closeness; a plague on monocultures! Their competition is unlike that of athletes in one race with identical rules for all. They all use every opportunity nature and the neighbours provide, each according to a slowly evolved, unique set of specific attributes. (The word specific is not so often used in this original sense anymore!)

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866
Photographer
Thabo Maphisa
Author
Ivan Latti
 
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