Arctotis leiocarpa

Grassland on the western plains of South Africa receives its rain in winter and usually not as much of it as on the grazing land of the north-eastern parts or the Free State. Winter rain does trigger annual flower show-time, as a notable hallmark of the region’s best.

Arctotis leiocarpa is but one of many species that may bloom plentifully when conditions are good. The South African grasslands are primary or natural grasslands that have retained their character for thousands, maybe millions of years. Secondary grassland is formed when forests have been destroyed or some other calamity had befallen a region with the capacity for growing grass.

South African grassland is temperate, differing from tropical grasslands like the Serengeti of Tanzania and elsewhere to our north. Our local grassland also differs from other famous examples like the Prairies of North America, the Pampas of South America and the Steppes of Europe and Asia.

What makes the temperate grasslands of Africa unique is their co-evolution in tandem with humanity: Whereas humans arrived in all the grasslands elsewhere on earth relatively late, African grassland withstood human impact of the pre-technology age for much longer, adapting to the presence of people and hominids living off the land.

If we could revert to lighter living, friendlier treatment of our grasslands, such as may come about through carbon sequestration, Africa might well achieve something ecologically meaningful again. As long as we can resist ecological “improvements” to nature or excessive commercial monoculture planting (Braam van Wyk, Geasphere Conference, Nov 2006).