Declared as one of the six floral kingdoms of the world, the Cape Floral Kingdom has over 9000 species of flowering fynbos plants within an area of 90 000km². At least 70% of these species can only be found in the Cape.
Grootbos is known to hold 765 of the 9000 species; 410 of which are on the Red Data list, meaning they are threatened, six species are completely new to science and four of these are known to only exist within the reserve.
Our tour guides are well informed and eager to share their knowledge with the guests. Even those who have no interest in flowers will become enthralled and interested by the diversity and uniqueness of what can be found.
Native to South Africa, the Hottentot or sour fig, (Carpobrotus edulis), belongs to the Aizoaceae family (the fig-marigold family or ice plant family), and grows very well on sunny slopes in coastal regions.
This plant acts as a groundcover that can stablise the soil and prevent soil erosion. Their leaves are eaten by tortoises and the fruit by small rodents. These leaves are great for sunburns, stings and even earaches! Puff adders, Cape cobras and other snakes wait in the thickets of this plant and ambush their prey who are attracted to the fruit.
Monkey beetles and other pollen feeders are also attracted to the flowers, which only open when the sun is out during the day. They shut during the night creating a great shelter for their pollinators while they sleep.
Once the flowers turn into fruit, we can collect them to eat or make jams.