When it comes to South Africa, it is best known not only for diamond minerals but also for its rich flora and fauna. There are many myths created by nature on this vast African continent, and south Africa's biodiversity is amazing. In addition to large wildlife such as rhinos, elephants and lions, South Africa is home to thousands of uniquely shaped plants and is home to many succulents.
I think this place for succulent lovers and zoologists should be like the holy land of Mecca; So why do succulents like to take root in South Africa? It is mainly due to its unique geographical location and climatic environment.
In the southwestern tip of South Africa there is a place called Cape Province, in which there is a very famous desert called "Namaqualan" (here Namaqualan refers to the area of Namaqualan National Park in the western part of the administrative region), it is one of the most unique deserts on the earth, and a large number of botanists and tourists visit here every year. Although Namaqualan belongs to the arid desert, it does not prevent the growth of nearly 3500 species of plants here. Probably dozens of countries combined don't have as many native plants as here.
Nearly 1,000 species of plants are unique to this arid desert land and have not yet been discovered in other parts of the planet. Innamaqualan is controlled by subtropical high pressures all year round, resulting in sinking air currents being very common here and with very low rainfall. At the same time, because of the leeward side, the humid air from the Indian Ocean is also difficult to reach, which is also a factor that is very unfavorable to precipitation, so it has formed a desert climate. The temperature difference here is also very large, which is very suitable for succulent growth.
Image from Little Red Book
The Namakwalan Desert is also a foggy area all year round, with foggy for more than 150 days a year, and it is estimated that it is difficult to greet each other face-to-face. But it is precisely because of this fog that it has become a key source of water for plants, and with this moisture, the survival ability of plants has become stronger. As a result, many succulents are stationed here, multiplying and thriving, outlining an incomparably moving picture in this endless river of time.
The existing succulents of Namakwalan are: Coneaceae of the family Cinnamomyceae and the genus Bulbophyllum; Sedumidae Cycads, Silver Wave, And Phylloscopus; Lomocos bitter melon palm genus, Guozhang genus, Buddha's head jade genus; Lily family Shark Palm Genus, Twelve Volumes, Aloe Vera Genus; Purslane; Oleander family, Mallet; Genus Asteraceae; Euphorbia in the family Euphorbia, etc.
If you visit Namaqualan, it is best to go from August to September every year, because it is its rainy season, and only at this time will the plants in the desert be rejuvenated by the rain. Colorful wildflowers, strong succulents, and various animals and plants seem to be instantly revived in hibernation, and it is as if it has been reset by the Lady of the Lady, which is very different from the harsh desert of other seasons.
As a succulent lover, it is definitely a blessing to be able to visit this place in my lifetime. "You will weep twice when you come to Namakwalan, the first time when you arrive and the second time when you leave." This is namaqualan's travel slogan in South Africa. On Earth, Namakwalan is definitely a well-deserved botanical sanctuary.
Nowadays, plant poaching in South Africa is becoming more and more rampant, due to the growing demand for succulents, the incidence of theft of plants has also skyrocketed, and the Cape region of South Africa is the hardest hit area. Although South Africa has long enacted strict laws to prohibit such behavior, criminals often choose to take risks in the face of interests. Since the beginning of the year, he has received an average of nearly 2,500 wild meat cone plants confiscated by police every week since the beginning of the year, which are rare and succulents stolen by some extralegal fanatics, an expert revealed. He said the stolen wild plants can no longer be replanted in the wild, otherwise there is a risk of contaminating other wild plant populations.
Experts warn that populations of succulents such as the genus Cone often grow densely in the same area, and a few excavations by poachers are highly likely to cause extinction. The reason why criminals choose the flesh cone is simply because of the long growth cycle of the genus, and it takes about 4 to 5 years for a seed to grow from cultivation to adult plant. This has also led to illegal traders turning their sights on wild species, where there is no harm in buying and selling, and strengthening anti-poaching efforts is a very difficult but necessary problem for the South African government.