In an unforgiving environment like the Richtersveld, it is difficult to understand how fynbos can survive. The annual rainfall here is 44mm in the west and 85mm in the east, so vegetation is sparse and specially adapted to survive in these harsh, dry conditions. Not only is the area dry, but temperatures are extreme. In February 2013 the maximum temperature by midday at the base of Roseintjieberg reached 62°C. In winter night temperatures can drop to way below 0°C.
For many years the plant life on top of Vandersterberg, Cornelsberg and Stinkfontein-berg has been called fynbos. In 2006 this unit was even described in the Vegetation Types of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland as “Stinkfontein quartz fynbos”. This is because many species present are evergreen, unlike most succulent Karoo shrubs. Also the soil is sour due to a high presence of quartzite and two fynbos species, Elytropappus rhinocerotis and Restio sieberi (also found within the renosterveld vegetation), are present.
A question still hangs around this unit. If it is truly fynbos, why is it there? Did it survive from an era when it was more widespread? Is this perhaps a sign of the ability of plants to move to more suitable sites?
The three mentioned mountains are an incredible sight for anyone who lives in the Richtersveld, and even more so for a visitor. If you know these barren landscapes, seeing the fynbos unit is like being in a different place. If you were to hike to the top of Vandersterberg, up the mountain from Window Falls, you would start noticing a change in the geology as you travel to the top. It might feel as if you were in the Cederberg, surrounded by large sandstone and conglomerate sculptures. The greatest surprise is the dense, lush vegetation, even at the peak of summer.
One such hike not only led to many photos of all the new and unknown sights, but a wonderful discovery. After showing the photos to experts, it emerged that two of the photographed species (Phylica montana and Elytropappus scaber) where the first ever records of these species in the Richtersveld.
Both are fynbos species, adding to the total number found here. This is even more proof that the vegetation on top of these mountains is definitely fynbos.
Park staff now want to start researching the fynbos unit because it is important to understand it, and particularly its current state. It is merely square- metre islands of fynbos that still exist and any disturbance could cause them to die out.
Potential subjects to investigate include the ecology of the habitat, morphological adaptation of the species, weather conditions and if these species are increasing or disappearing due to climate change. It is also believed that there are still more new species to discover.
