Pelargonium cucullatum at Silvermine in the Cape

Pelargonium cucullatum grows on Table Mountain, as well as on the mountain range to Cape Point and also eastwards.

Several Pelargonium species re-establish themselves quite effectively from seeds after veld fires. The burnt plant stumps or root bases of some pelargoniums are, however, not woody enough, thus unable to resprout after a fire as many other fynbos species can do.

Some species compensate for this disadvantage by the strong propagation capacity of their seeds. The seeds of P. cucullatum have for instance been found to germinate in the fynbos after several years of lying in wait upon favourable conditions.

Veld fires are not always a negative feature, form a vital part of fynbos wellbeing but their incidence should not be as high as they occur in some parts of the Cape Floristic Region these days! Fires should always be prevented where and when possible, for the high human population density, together with natural causes ensure more than sufficient fire for optimal fynbos life.