Plants of the Baviaanskloof

Title: Plants of the Baviaanskloof
Authors: Douglas Euston-Brown; Magriet Kruger
Contributor: Ernst J. van Jaarsveld
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
Cape Town, South Africa 2023
ISBN 9781775847670 / ISBN 978-1-77-584767-0
Hardcover, dustjacket, 15 x 21 cm, 517 pages, throughout colour photographs and illustrations

About: Plants of the Baviaanskloof

A scenic three-hour drive north from Knysna or Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) leads to one of South Africa's best-kept secrets, the Baviaanskloof. This narrow valley of just under 200 km supports an astonishing variety of plants and was declared part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site in 2004. A rugged landscape of fold mountains, valleys and narrow kloofs, the Baviaanskloof is bound by two mountain ranges, the Baviaanskloof in the north and the Kouga to the south. Several biomes collide here, and unique plant and animal assemblages are common in these parts. Interestingly, the distribution range of a large proportion of plant species ends in the Baviaanskloof. The region represents the eastern limit of many Fynbos taxa and also the southwestern limit of several subtropical taxa from the northeast.

This notion of the Baviaanskloof as the meeting point of many end points or boundaries extends beyond plants and is also true for birds and other life forms. The extreme edge of a taxon's distribution range is often the place where unusual varieties or even undescribed species are found, as life forms adapt and evolve in a relatively new and changing environment. Plants of the Baviaanskloof describes over 1,100 plant species that occur in the region. A total of ± 1,700 species have been found in the study area. Of these, ± 100 are exotics, ± 90 are endemic and ± 90 are near endemic. Over 120 of the species found in the Baviaanskloof were red-listed in the Threatened Species Programme of South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in 2021, and several are Critically Endangered (CR).

The study area covered in Plants of the Baviaanskloof is larger than what is typically known as the Baviaanskloof. It encompasses an area of 10,000 km2 and includes the mountains north of the Langkloof and south of the Steytlerville Karoo. The small towns of Uniondale and Willowmore are at the western extent, with Patensie (Khoekhoe for cattle resting place) and Loerie at the eastern extent. Another word with Khoekhoe origins is 'baviaan' - meaning baboon - an unsurprising name since many baboons are seen here. The study area is visually represented in a topographical map at the front and back of this Plants of the Baviaanskloof; it includes most place names referred to in the text.

Douglas Euston-Brown works as an independent botanical consultant, with a special focus on vegetation monitoring and conservation of natural ecosystems, especially in wild, remote areas. His interest in the Baviaanskloof was sparked when he studied the vegetation of the area for his Master's degree. He has since made the Baviaanskloof his second home, and his fieldwork in the region has led to the discovery of several new species, which are introduced here for the first time.

Magriet Kruger has lived in the Baviaanskloof since 1979. She owns and runs Zandvlakte Private Nature Reserve, started photographing flowers in the first week of her arrival here. Dedicated to the conservation of the area's natural beauty and cultural heritage, Magriet and husband Pieter Kruger are widely known for their nature restoration initiatives and work in the local community.

Content: Plants of the Baviaanskloof

Preface
Introduction
Geological history of the area
A variable climate
Vegetation types
About this book
Marchantiophytes
Pteridophytes
Gymnosperms
Palaeodicots
Monocotyledons
Dicotyledons
Illustrated glossary of terms
Glossary of terms
Photographic credits
Acknowledgements
Index to scientific names
Index to common names