Afromontane Forest
Afromontane forest – Fernkloof nature reserve
Assegaaibos an example of an Afro-montane forest
Walking in the Afromontane forest – Fernkloof nature reserve, we approached the pristine Afromontane forest called Assegaaibos .The tree communities known as Afromontane Forest are generally restricted to moist, sheltered kloofs that are protected from the prevalent fynbos fires. Afromontane forest are also the highest level of plant communities requiring higher annual rainfalls of 800 mm. This isolated pocket of Afromontane forest – Fernkloof nature reserve, boasts a rich variety of coastal and montane plant species. The fynbos biome is generally not rich in trees, there are however roughly 30 tree species found in the Afromontane forest – Fernkloof nature reserve.
Afromontane forest – Fernkloof nature reserve
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FERNKLOOF TREES
| 1. Alberta magna | Natal Flame Bush, Breekhout, isiQalaba |
| 2. Bauhinia galpinii | Pride-of-de-Kaap,Vlam-van-de-vlakte |
| 3. Brachylaena neriifolia | Kloof brachylaena, Water witels |
| 4. Calodendron capense | umBaba, Cape chestnut, Wilde kastaling |
| 5. Cassine peragua | umNquayi, Bastard saffronwood, Bastersaffraan |
| 6. Celtis africana | Witstinkhout, White or Camdeboo stinkwood/umVuvu |
| 7. Chionanthus foveolatus | Fine-leaved ironwood, Fynblaarysterhout |
| 8. Curtisia dentata | Assegai tree, umGxina |
| 9. Cunonia capensis | Rooiels, Butterspoons, umQwashube |
| 10. Dais cotinifolia | Pompon tree, Kannabas, inTozani |
| 11. Dovyalis caffra | umQokolo, Kei-apple, Kei-appel |
| 12. Ekebergia capensis | umGwenyaezinja, Cape ash, Essenhout |
| 13. Ficus sur | Cape Fig, Wildevyboom, umKhiwane |
| 14. Greyia sutherlandii | Natal bottlebrush, Natalse baakhout |
| 15. Halleria lucida | Tree fuchsia, Notsung, umBinza |
| 16. Harpephyllum caffrum | Wild plum, Wildepruim, umGwenya |
| 17. Ilex mitis | African holly, Without, umDuma |
| 18. Kiggelaria africana | Wild peach, Wildeperske, umKokoko |
| 19. Leucospermum conocarpodendron | Grey tree pincushion, Kreupelhout |
| 20. Maytenus acuminata | Silky bark, Sybas, umNama |
| 21. Ochna serrulata | Carnival buhs, Fynblaarrooihout |
| 22. Olea capensis | Ironwood, Ysterhout |
| 23. Olea europaea ssp africana | Wild olive, Swartolienhout, umNquma |
| 24. Olinia ventosa | Hard pear, Hardepeer |
| 25. Osyris compressa | Cape sumach, Pruimbas |
| 26. Podalyria calyptrata | Waterblossom pea, Waterkeurtjie |
| 27. Podocarpus falcatus | Outeniqua yellowwood, Geelhout, umGeya |
| 28. Podocarpus latifolius | Real yellowwood, Opregte geelhout, umGeya |
| 29. Protea nitida | Waboom, isAdlunge |
| 30. Psoralea pinnata | Fountain bush, Fonteinbos |
| 31. Rapanea melanophloeos | Cape beech, Kaapse boekenhout, isiQwane sehlathi |
| 32. Rhus lancea | Karee, |
| 33. Rhus tomentosa | Wild currant, Korentebos |
| 34. Sideroxylon inerme | White milkwood, Wit melkhout |
| 35. Tarchonanthus camphoratus | Camphor bush, Kamferbos, isiDuli selindle |
| 36. Virgilia oroboides | Keurboom |
| 37. Virgilia divaricata | |
| 38. Widdrington nodiflora | Mountain cedar, Bergsipres |
Assegaai Bos
Assegaaibos
Forrest in Fernkloof reserve
Fernkloof forrest
Assegaaibos in Fernkloof
Boekenhout
We were not even 2km from the visitors center in the Reserve and had walked from the Fynbos biome into the Afro-montane forest biome , a unique experience., Gill was doing a guided walk with a F.G.A.S.A assessor, who was testing her to qualify as a F.G.A.S.A guide. We were startled by a swooping Rufous-Chested Sparrow hawk that literally passed our heads less than an arm’s length away as it marauded through the Silky-bark, Rooi Els, and Boekenhout trees in search of prey. We stopped at the Assegaaibos waterfall for freshly brewed coffee and “Mosbolletjie” bread. Mosbolletjie is a local South African bread which is dough leavened with the must of grapes and aniseed.
