Renosterveld usually grows in soil that is rich and clayey. But Fynbos usually grows in sandy soil that is poor in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that plants need to grow. Sandy soil drains easily so nutrients wash out of the soil when it rains.

• Because Fynbos soils are poor in nutrients, the plants cannot afford to waste materials like nitrogen and phosphorus by producing large leaves or juicy fruits.

• Instead, most Fynbos plants have small evergreen leaves that stay on the plant for many years.

• The seeds of most Fynbos plants are also small and hard. Most seeds are dispersed by wind or ants rather than birds, which are attracted to fleshy berries.

• Fynbos plants grow fastest after a fire when the old plants burn and release their nutrients as ash, which fertilizes the soil.

Fungi make roots more efficient

• In many Fynbos plants (e.g. ericas) there is a symbiotic relationship between the roots of the plant and a fungus. This relationship is called a mycorrhiza.

• The mycorrhizal fungus is similar to a bread mould. Its threads cover and penetrate the root and serve as additional root hairs. They greatly increase the surface area of the root so that it can absorb more water and nutrients from the soil.

• In turn, the fungus absorbs carbohydrate food produced by the plant.

Proteas and Restios have special roots

• Protea and Restio roots are also adapted to absorb water and nutrients efficiently. They produce bunches of small roots near the surface of the soil called proteoid  and restioid roots. These roots absorb water and nutrients twice as well as normal roots.

• Proteoid roots usually grow after rain and die back when the soil is dry and water and nutrients are not available.

• Proteas also have deep roots to reach water deep in the soil.

• In damp places in Fynbos, you will often find small plants called Sundews. These plants have hairs on their leaves that produce sticky droplets.

• When a small insect like an ant or fly lands on the leaf, it cannot escape from the sticky liquid. The leaf curls over the insect and secretes enzymes that digest the insect. The plant then absorbs the nutrients it needs from the insect’s body.

Click the buttons to find out more about how some of the plants and animals of Cape Town’s lowlands are adapted to live in this environment.
 

	Surviving drought
	Surviving fire
	Growing in poor soils
	Living in water