The initial proposal
for the TPP (Threatened Plants Programme) of the Harold Porter Botanical
Garden focused on Satyrium carneum and Satyrium hallackii
(subsp. hallackii), but the proposal was changed once the co-ordinating
horticulturist learnt that a tissue culture lab (a facility we do not have)
would be needed to propagate these species successfully. She gathered this
vital information when she completed a two-week SABONET internship at the
Durban Botanical Garden. Read
more...
Focus
falls on five fynbos species
As our partnership with the officials at the Western Cape
Nature Conservation Board—Kogelberg
Biosphere Reserve—developed,
it became clear to us that the emphasis of our Threatened Plant Project
should be on educating the public about the threats to fynbos flora. In
brainstorming the project with our partners, we decided to identify five
local threatened species that could be collected and cultivated for sale,
display, and educational purposes. The species are Witsenia maura,
Erica patersonii, Mimetes hottentoticus, Erica lowryensis,
and Nivenia stokoei.
Consequently,
we are developing a fynbos section as part of our Four Eco-systems Trail.
This will feature a special potted display of the five selected species
accompanied by interpretive signage detailing the causes of their threatened
status, as well as conservation information.
The pathway
through the Fynbos Eco-system is complete, thanks to the hard work of
the staff. We are growing Erica patersonii, Nivenia stokoei,
and Witsenia maura, seed of Erica lowryensis has been collected
and will be sown soon, and we are rooting cuttings of Mimetes hottentoticus
in our glasshouse.
We
aim to display three storyboards. One will depict the reasons why plants
in general are threatened, such as urbanisation, or their being specific
to a certain locality. The second board, “What you can do”, will tell
the visitors/public what their role in conservation is, such as sustainable
harvesting. The third board will categorise threats. The individual plant
labels will have a red background, as this will draw the visitor’s attention.
The label will include information on why that specific plant is threatened
or rare.
Plantings
of Erica patersonii, Mimetes hirtus, and Brunia
stokoei have taken place in the Wetland Eco-system and might be included
in the other sections of the Four Eco-systems Trail. Because of this,
a z-folded pamphlet depicting the four ecosystems and the threatened plants
is envisioned as part of the interpretation.
The
Garden enjoyed working on the Programme and will continue to do so. Thanks
to SABONET for the opportunity.
—by Berenice Carolus
SABONET News 9.1: 37
