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View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

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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 />

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