Kniphofia ritualis and helichrysums

Kniphofia ritualis is one of the bright flowering perennials enhancing the montane grassland on Drakensberg slopes. Some spreading helichrysum bushes nearby add diversity. They shelter birds and animals that make a living here. This entails eating what other species offer, by simply being conveniently available.

Summer rain, winter snow and bare rock are notable features requiring adaptation from all species that settle here. Later on it may appear as if they have always been together like this. But when conditions change, the usual evolutionary weeding out of those that can’t cope begins again by them dying before reproducing. Plant endemism results from unique events of successful species adaptations made to the particular challenges presented. They cope with each other, support each other and live off each other.

Asteraceae, Gladiolus, Kniphofia and Pelargonium are some notable genera represented in the Drakensberg vegetation, making these slopes special (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).