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{{Short description|Shrubland and heathland ecoregion of southwestern South Africa}}
{{Use South African English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=MayNovember 20132022}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2008}}
[[File:Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos - Cape Town 8.JPG|thumb|Mountain fynbos on the [[Cape Peninsula]]]]
[[File:Fynbos_18_months_after_fire_-_360_degree_photo.jpg|thumb|A [[toollabs:panoviewer/#Fynbos 18 months after fire - 360 degree photo.jpg|360 degree photograph]] of fynbos in the [[Groot Winterhoek]] section of the Cape Fold Mountains about 18 months after a fire. New plants can be seen in various stages of growth following the fire. The infertile white soil that fynbos tends to grow in can also be clearly seen.]]
 
'''Fynbos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|eɪ|n|b|ɒ|s}}; {{IPA-af|ˈfɛinbos|af}} meaning {{lit|fine-leaved plants}}) is a small belt of natural [[shrubland]] or [[Heath (habitat)|heathland]] vegetation located in the [[Western Cape]] and [[Eastern Cape]] provinces of [[South Africa]]. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a [[Mediterranean climate]] and rainy winters. The fynbos [[ecoregion]] is within the [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub]] [[biome]]. In fields related to [[biogeography]], fynbos is known for its exceptional degree of [[biodiversity]]<ref name=JManning>{{cite book | last = Manning | first = John | title = Field Guide to Fynbos | publisher = Struik Publishers | location = Cape Town | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781770072657 }}</ref> and [[endemism]],<ref>{{WWF ecoregion|id=at1202|name=Lowland fynbos and renosterveld |access-date=26 January 2010}}</ref> consisting of about 80% (8,500 fynbos) species of the [[Cape floral kingdom]], where nearly 6,000 of them are endemic.<ref name="panda.org">{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/fynbos/|title=Fynbos, South Africa|work=panda.org|access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> This land continues to face severe human-caused threats, but due to the many economic uses of the fynbos, conservation efforts are being made to help restore it.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}
 
==Etymology==
==Overview and history==
The word '''[[wikt:fynbos'|fynbos]]'' is often confusingly said to mean "fine bush" in [[Afrikaans]], as "''[[wikt:bos" #Afrikaans|bos]]'' means "bush". Typical fynbos foliage is [[ericoid]] rather than fine. The term, in its pre-Afrikaans, Dutch form, ''[[wikt:fynbosch|fynbosch]]'', was recorded by Noble as being in casual use in the late 19th century.<ref name= JNoble>{{cite book|last=Noble|first= John|title= Descriptive handbook of the Cape Colony: its condition and resources|publisher= Juta |year=1875|url= https://archive.org/details/descriptivehandb00nobl|websitevia=www.archive.org[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> In the early 20th century, [[John Bews]] referred to: "South-Western or Cape Region of Macchia or Fynbosch". He said: "In this well-known region where the rain occurs in winter and the summers are more or less dry, the dominant vegetation is of a [[sclerophyll]]ous type and there is little or no natural [[grassland]], though there are many kinds of grass..."<ref name= JBews>{{cite book|last=Bews|first= John William|title= The grasses and grasslands of South Africa |publisher= Pietermaritzburg, P. David & Sons, Ltd., Printers |year=1918 |url=https://archive.org/details/grassesgrassland00bews|websitevia=www.archive.orgInternet Archive}}</ref> He also refers to a high degree of [[endemism]] in the grasses in that region. Elsewhere he speaks of the term as "...applied by the inhabitants of the Cape to any sort of small woodland growth that does not include timber trees"; in the current vernacular, this still is the effective sense of the word.<ref name=JManning/> However, in the technical, ecological sense, the constraints are more demanding. In the latter half of the 20th century, "fynbos" gained currency as the term for the "distinctive vegetation of the southwestern Cape".<ref name=JManning/>
 
==Cape Floral Kingdom==
[[File:Florenreiche.jpg|thumb|The [[Cape Floristic Region|Cape Floral Kingdom]] (Capensis) is one of only 6six [[Phytochorion|floristic kingdoms]] in the world. It is also the smallest and richest per unit of area.]]
{{Main|Cape Floristic Region}}
Fynbos – which grows in a 100-to-200-km-wide coastal belt stretching from [[Clanwilliam, Western Cape|Clanwilliam]] on the West coast to [[Port Elizabeth]] on the Southeast coast – forms part of the [[Cape floral kingdom]], where it accounts for half of the surface area and 80% of the plant species. The fynbos in the western regions is richer and more varied than in the eastern regions of South Africa.
 
Of the world's six [[floral kingdom]]s, this is the smallest and richest per unit of area. The [[Holarctic]] kingdom, in contrast, incorporates the whole of the Northern Hemisphere north of the tropics. The diversity of fynbos plants is extremely high, with over 9,000 species of plants occurring in the area, around 6,200 of which are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]], i.e. growing nowhere else in the world. South Africa's Western Cape has the vast majority of species with one estimate finding 8,550 species in 89,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, which is higher than that estimated for the Malayan forests, 7,900 species in 132,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite journal|lastlast1=Kruger|firstfirst1=F. J.|last2=Taylor|first2=H. C.|date=1980|title=Plant Species Diversity in Cape Fynbos: Gamma and Delta Diversity|journal=Vegetatio|volume=41|issue=2|pages=85–93|doi=10.1007/BF00121419|jstor=20145761|s2cid=19960784}}</ref> It has been claimed that it exceeds even the richest tropical rainforest in South America, including the Amazon.<ref name="panda.org"/>{{unreliable source?|date=August 2018}}<!-- see Amazon figures here -– {{cite journal|doi=10.1073/pnas.1706756114|pmid=28923966|pmc=5635885|title=Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America|volume=114|issue=40|pages=10695–10700|year=2017|last1=Cardoso|first1=Domingos|last2=Särkinen|first2=Tiina|last3=Alexander|first3=Sara|last4=Amorim|first4=André M|last5=Bittrich|first5=Volker|last6=Celis|first6=Marcela|last7=Daly|first7=Douglas C|last8=Fiaschi|first8=Pedro|last9=Funk|first9=Vicki A|last10=Giacomin|first10=Leandro L|last11=Goldenberg|first11=Renato|last12=Heiden|first12=Gustavo|last13=Iganci|first13=João|last14=Kelloff|first14=Carol L|last15=Knapp|first15=Sandra|last16=Cavalcante De Lima|first16=Haroldo|last17=Machado|first17=Anderson F P|last18=Dos Santos|first18=Rubens Manoel|last19=Mello-Silva|first19=Renato|last20=Michelangeli|first20=Fabián A|last21=Mitchell|first21=John|last22=Moonlight|first22=Peter|last23=De Moraes|first23=Pedro Luís Rodrigues|last24=Mori|first24=Scott A|last25=Nunes|first25=Teonildes Sacramento|last26=Pennington|first26=Terry D|last27=Pirani|first27=José Rubens|last28=Prance|first28=Ghillean T|last29=De Queiroz|first29=Luciano Paganucci|last30=Rapini|first30=Alessandro|display-authors=29}} --> Of the ''[[Erica (plant)|Erica]]s'', over 600 occur in the fynbos kingdom, while only two or three dozen have been [[Species description|described]] in the rest of the world. This is in an area of 46,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> – by comparison, the [[Netherlands]], with an area of 33,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, has 1,400 species, none of them endemic. [[Table Mountain (South Africa)|Table Mountain]] in [[Cape Town]] supports 2,200 species, more than the entire United Kingdom. Thus, although the fynbos covers only 6% of the area of southern Africa, it has half the species on the subcontinent – and in fact has almost 1one in 5five of all African plant species so far described.
 
Five main river systems traverse the Cape floral kingdom: the [[Olifants River (Western Cape)|Oliphants River of the Western Cape]]; the [[Berg River]] which drains the West Coast Forelands plain stretching from the [[Cape Flats]] to the Olifants; the [[Breede River|Breede]], which is the largest river on the Cape; the [[Olifants River (Southern Cape)]]; [[Gourits River|Gourits]] and the [[Groot River (Eastern Cape)|Groot River]]s which drain the [[Little Karoo]] basin and the South Coast Forelands; and the [[Baviaanskloof River|Baviaanskloof]] and [[Gamtoos River]]s to the east.
 
==Flora==
[[File:Peninsula Shale Fynbos - DevilsPeak Cape Town.jpg|thumb|[[Peninsula Shale Fynbos]] flora on [[Devil's Peak (Cape Town)|Devils Peak]], [[Cape Town]].]]
[[File:Cape Fynbos - Gladiolus alatus.jpg|thumb|''[[Gladiolus alatus]]'' flowers in Cape fynbos.]]
The most conspicuous components of the [[flora]] are [[evergreen]] [[sclerophyll]]ous plants, many with [[ericoid]] leaves and gracile habit, as opposed to timber forest. Several plant families are conspicuous in fynbos; the [[Proteaceae]] are prominent, with genera such as ''[[Protea]]'', ''[[Leucospermum]]'' (the "pincushions"), and ''[[Leucadendron]]'' (the [[Leucadendron argenteum|silver tree]] and "[[cone bush]]es"). Proteas are represented by many species and are prominent in the landscape, generally with large striking flowers, many of which are pollinated by birds, and others by small mammals. Most of these do not have anything like ericoid leaves, and nor do most [[Rhamnaceae]], [[Fabaceae]], or [[Geraniaceae]]. Fynbos [[Ericaceae]] include more species of ''Erica'' than all other regions combined. They are popularly called heaths and are generally smaller plants bearing many small, tubular or globular flowers and [[ericoid]] leaves. [[Restionaceae]] also occur in greater variety in fynbos than anywhere else; their species are superficially grass-like. Many of them grow in wet areas such as seasonal marshes and spongy basins in the sources of mountain streams, but others grow in decidedly arid conditions.
 
Depending on the locality and the aspects under discussion, several other families have equal claim to being characteristic, including [[Asteraceae]], [[Rutaceae]], and [[Iridaceae]].<ref name=JManning/> More than 1400 bulb species occur among the fynbos, of which 96 are ''[[Gladiolus]]'' and 54 ''[[Lachenalia]]''. Areas that are dominated by "renosterbos", ''[[Elytropappus rhinocerotis]]'', (Asteraceae) are known as [[Renosterveld]] (Afrikaans for "rhinoceros veldfield").<ref name=JManning/>
 
===Vegetation types===
{{See also|List of vegetation types of South Africa}}
Fynbos vegetation types, code FF:<ref name="Vegmap 2012" >{{cite web
|authors=South African National Biodiversity Institute (2006- )
|title=The Vegetation Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland
|editor1-last=Mucina |editor1-first=L. |editor2-last=Rutherford |editor2-first=M.C. |editor3-last=Powrie |editor3-first=L.W.
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* [[Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation]] (FFb 2)
* [[Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos]] (FFs 5)
{{divDiv col end}}
 
==Fauna==
The fynbos is home to many unique and endemic animals, with 7seven species of endemic bird and an unknown number of endemic reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. The 7seven avian endemics include the [[Cape rockjumper]], [[Cape sugarbird]], [[Victorin's warbler]], [[Orange-breasted sunbird]], [[Protea canary]], [[Cape siskin]], and [[HottentotFynbos buttonquail]].
 
==Ecoregions==
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}}
 
The '''Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld''' experiences regular winter rainfall, especially to the west of [[Cape Agulhas]]. The ecoregion has been subdivided into 9nine areas: the West Coast Forelands from the Cape Flats to the Olifants River (Western Cape); the [[Warm Bokkeveld]] basin around the town of [[Ceres, Western Cape|Ceres]]; the Elgin Valley around the town of [[Elgin, Western Cape|Elgin]]; the sandy [[Agulhas Plain]] on the coast; the Breede River valley around the town of [[Worcester, Western Cape|Worcester]]; the South Coast Forelands from [[Caledon, Western Cape|Caledon]] west to [[Mossel Bay]]; the south-eastern end of the Little Karoo; [[Langkloof]] valley; and the Southeastern Coast Forelands west from [[Tsitsikamma]] to [[Port ElizabethGqeberha]].
 
The flora of the lowlands contains a high number of endemic species, and tends to favour larger plants than those growing on the hillier areas. They include the larger Restionaceae such as species of ''[[Elegia (plant)|Elegia]]'', ''[[Thamnochortus]]'', and ''[[Willdenowia (plant)|Willdenowia]]'' and proteas such as king protea (''[[Protea cynaroides]]'') and blushing bride (''[[Serruria florida]]''). Particular types of lowland fynbos include the shrubs and herbs of the coastal sand dunes, the mixture of ericoids and restoids with thickets of shrubs such as ''[[Maytenus]]'', and other [[Celastraceae]], [[sideroxylon]]s and other [[Sapotaceae]], and ''[[Rhus]]'' and other [[Anacardiaceae]] on the coastal sands; the classic fynbos of the sandplains of the West Coast Forelands, and the Agulhas Plain; the grassy fynbos of the hillier and wetter areas of the South and South-Eastern Coast Forelands; areas where fynbos and renosterveld are mixed; coastal renosterveld on the West and South Coast Forelands; and the inland renosterveld of the drier inland Little Karoo and Warm Bokkeveld.<ref>{{WWF ecoregion|id=at1202|name=Lowland fynbos and renosterveld}}</ref>
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The area is also home to a large number of endemic creatures that have adapted to life in this area, such as the [[monkey beetle]]s which pollinate ''[[Ixia viridiflora]]''. Endemic species of fish in the five river systems occur in the area, too. Endemic reptiles and amphibians include a number of [[tortoise]]s and the chameleon-like arum frog (''[[Hyperolius horstockii]]'').
 
The '''Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld''' is the area above {{Convert|300&nbsp;|m|abbr=on}}, a total of 45,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>{{Convert|45000|km2|abbr=on}} of the Cape Fold Mountains. The same level of floral variety, including all three characteristic fynbos families, is found there, but ericas predominate. Because the higher and wetter areas are more protected and contain important water sources, the original flora is more intact than in the lowlands; but agriculture and global warming are still threats. The region includes the mountains in the west from the [[Cape Peninsula]] to the [[Kouebokkeveld Mountains]], the south coast hinterland from Elgin to Port ElizabethGqeberha, the mountains north of the Little Karoo from [[Laingsburg, Western Cape|Laingsburg]] to [[Willowmore]], and the [[inselberg]] hills within the Little Karoo. About half of these areas are originally fynbos, and about half are renosterveld.
 
Many different microclimates occur, so the flora changes from west to east, and also varies with altitude up the hillsides away from the coast and according to compass direction. Lower elevations are covered with protea fynbos, with ericas taking over further up. Plant species include pincushions (''[[Leucospermum]]''). The wildlife includes a number of endemic bees, beetles, horseflies, and ants, and birds such as [[Cape sugarbird]]s and the [[orange-breasted sunbird]]. Many of these birds and insects are important and specific pollinators for the fynbos, such as the mountain pride butterfly (''[[Aeropetes tulbaghia]]'') which only visits red flowers such as ''[[Disa uniflora]]'' and pollinates 15 different species. Larger animals include antelopes, particularly Cape grysbok (''[[Raphicerus melanotis]]''), common duiker (''[[Sylvicapra grimmia]]''), and klipspringer (''[[Oreotragus oreotragus]]''). The extinct [[Bluebuck|blue antelope]] and [[quagga]] were also fynbos natives.
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In many areas with Mediterranean climates, fynbos species have become popular garden plants, in particular [[aloe]]s and [[pelargonium|geraniums]], and in cooler regions are used as window plants.
 
A very large number of fynbos plant species are used in traditional medicine, and while only a tiny proportion have as yet been subjected to formal testing, many have already been identified as having medicinal properties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fynboshub.co.za/working-with-fynbos/|title=Working with fynbos -– Fynbos Hub|work=fynboshub.co.za|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052109/http://www.fynboshub.co.za/working-with-fynbos/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tablemountain.net/blog/entry/pigs_ears_and_buchu_brandy_medicinal_plants_of_the_fynbos/|title=Pig’sPig's ears and buchu brandy: medicinal plants of the fynbos – Table Mountain Aerial Cableway -– Official Website|work=tablemountain.net|access-date=15 January 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105055/http://www.tablemountain.net/blog/entry/pigs_ears_and_buchu_brandy_medicinal_plants_of_the_fynbos/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-076.html|title=Commercialization of South African Indigenous Crops: Aspects of Research and Cultivation of Products|work=purdue.edu|access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref>
 
==Threats and conservation==
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<gallery widths="154px" heights="200px" class="center" caption="Research and conservation">
File:Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve - city of Cape Town.JPG|Researchers in a relatively remote stretch of [[Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos]]
File:Harmony Flats Nature Reserve - city of Cape Town.jpg|Community conservation group for the [[critically endangered]] remnant of [[Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos]] at [[Harmony Flats]], [[Cape Town]].
</gallery>
 
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==External links==
{{commonsCommons category}}
* [http://www.grootbos.com/en/blog/secret-season/fynbos-discoveries Fynbos Paradise of South Africa]
* [http://www.flora.co.za ''Images of Fynbos''] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130114070112/http://www.flora.co.za/ |date=14 January 2013 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930161613/http://www.biology.wcape.school.za/fynbos/ ''Western Cape School Network'' on fynbos]
* [http://www.proteaatlas.org.za "Protea Atlas Project"] with excellent information and images.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070719135512/http://www.fauna-flora.org/fynbos.php Fauna & Flora International's work on fynbos]
* [http://www.livingfynbos.com Fynbos Photography (organized taxonomically)]
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{{Biodiversity of South Africa|bioveg}}
{{Regions of Africa}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|34|10|0|S|18|22|30|E|source:frwiki_region:ZA_scale:100000|display=title}}
 
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