Flowers of the Cape Peninsular in 1926

Flowers found growing in Capetown and the Peninsular in 1926
ixia@dcsi.net.au

ixia@dcsi.net.au

"In these days people have become largely interested in natural science and when they spend a holiday in the Cape Beautiful they will like to be intelligently directed where to see and find the best of the flora". 1926

"Visitors to the Cape Peninsular have always been charmed with the beauty and variety of our flora. Some are content with merely admiring the gorgeous display of flowers exposed for sale in Adderley Street, but to appreciate to the full the exquisite beauty of some of the Peninsular flowers one should see them growing in the natural habitats. A day spent on Table Mountain, Muizenberg or Simonstown Mountains, on the slopes above Camps Bay and the suburbs, on Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Devil's Peak or the Cape Flats will amply repay the lover of Nature"
All excerpts taken from "the Cape Wild Flowers" in " The Cape of Good Hope" " Being the Official Handbook of the City of Capetown" fourth (overseas) Edition. 1926.

A writer in "The Field" in 1906 upon the Flowers of the Cape said: --- "But who can describe the glories of the flower world of the Cape Peninsular? On an area smaller than the Isle of Wight there are found two hundred more species than in the whole of England; in fact, the only district richer in flowers is that of Hong Kong."

Below is a list of flowers to be seen in their natural state in the Cape Peninsular, which was printed in the "Cape of Good Hope" handbook. "Being the Official Handbook of the City of Capetown", fourth (overseas) Edition, published in 1926.

NAME-MONTH-LOCALITY

• Aneno e Capensis L. July -Oct. Mountain slopes.
• Amaryllis belladonna L. March-April Mountain slopes.
• Agapanthus umbellatus L. Herit Dec.-Feb. Mountain slopes and summit.
• Aponogeton distachyon L.f June-Sept. Vleis and Flats.
• Babiana spp. June-Sept. Flats and Mountain slopes.
• Drosera spp. July-Dec. Damp spots, Flats, slopes and summit of Mountain.
• Disa uniflora Berg Dec.-Feb. Table Mountain.
• Disa gramnifolia Ker. Feb.-March Dry open spots on Mountains.
• Disa ferruginea Swtz. Feb.-April Open spots and ledges on Mnts.
• Disa longicornu L.f. Dec.-Jan. Wet ledges, Table Mountain.
• Erina spp. July-March Flats slopes and summit of Mnts
• Gladiolus augustus L. Sept.-Dec. Mountain slopes and summit.
• Gladiolus recurvus L. June-Sept. Mountain slopes and summit.
• Gladiolus alatus L. Aug.-Sept. Flats and slopes of Lion's Head.
• Helichrysum spp. July-Dec. Flats, slopes and summit of Mnts.
• lxia spp. ..... Sept.-Dec. Flats and mountain slopes.
• Leucadendron argenteum R. Br Sept.-Oct. Lion's Head and Constantia Nek
• Leucospermum conocarpon R. Br. Sept.-Feb. Mountain slopes.
• Lachenalia spp. July -Oct. Flats and mountain slopes.
• Nerine sarniensis Herb. March-April Mountain ledges and ravines.
• Nymphead Stellata Willd. Jan.-May Vieis and Flats.
• Protea cynaroides L. .. Jan.-July Summit of Table Mountain.
• Protea grandiflora Thbg. May-July Mountain slopes.
• Protea mellifera Thbg. June-Aug. Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Flats
• Protea speciosa L Dec.-April Mountain summit, Flats towards Cape Point
• Rochea coccinea D.C. Jan.-Feb. Mountain ledges and summit.

TOP OF PAGE