View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Literature review<br />
R. camerooniana has been known to occur in the Drakensberg region (MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT, 2001). The data in Figures 2.5 to 2.7 describes the climate <strong>of</strong> Royal<br />
National Park, a park situated within the Drakensberg range. This has been known to<br />
flower from May to February, although it mostly flowers from December to April<br />
(MANNING & GOLDBLATT, 2001; BURROWS & WILLIS, 2005), therefore it would<br />
be expected to set seed during May and July.<br />
In Figures 2.6 and 2.7 there is a large drop in average total monthly rainfall and a<br />
corresponding drop in average daily humidity for the month <strong>of</strong> April. These<br />
conditions, which are not suitable for germination, continue until September. During<br />
September, the average daily minimum and maximum temperatures (averaged for<br />
2004 to 2009) at the weather station at Royal National Park has been reported to be<br />
7.4±0.8°C and 24.5±0.8°C respectively.<br />
The climate <strong>of</strong> Calvinia, where R. diversiformis is found, is described in Figures 2.8 to<br />
2.10. R. diversiformis also occurs around the area <strong>of</strong> Sutherland, Fraserburg and<br />
Beaufort west (Figures 2.11 to 2.19). During the time in which this species is<br />
expected to set seed (October to November) there is an increase in average daily<br />
temperature and average total monthly rainfall and a decrease in average daily<br />
humidity. According to this data, seeds should germinate well with a regime <strong>of</strong> night<br />
temperatures between 0 and 15°C and day temperatures between 20 and 30°C.<br />
R. flava is widespread across a large part <strong>of</strong> the southern-African winter-rainfall zone,<br />
including areas near Nieuwoudtville (Figures 2.20 to 2.22). R. monadelpha and R.<br />
sabulosa and many other species in this genus also occur in this area (MANNING &<br />
GOLDBLATT, 2001). Here rainfall increases sharply in the month <strong>of</strong> October and<br />
average total monthly rain remains the same for November. The time in which these<br />
species are expected to set seed, October and November, appears to be a suitable<br />
time for seed germination in Nieuwoudtville, the rainfall also increases in December,<br />
providing moist conditions which are suitable for seedling establishment. Minimum<br />
and maximum temperatures are 8.2±0.3 and 25.6±0.4°C for October and 10.1±0.3<br />
and 27.5±0.4°C for November in Nieuwoudtville.<br />
25