An unusual form of Lapeirousia corymbosa from Farm 215

Fynbos fan, Maarten Groos of Farm 215 near Gansbaai sent me this photo of an unusual form of  Lapeirousia corymbosa (koringblommetjie) that he photographed in a small remnant patch of Elim ferricrete fynbos on his farm. Lapeirousia corymbosa grows in sandy-clay soils on flats and lower slopes from Piketberg to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards to Caledon/Bredasdorp and flowers in the spring.

Elim Ferricrete fynbos is a critically endangered vegetation type restricted to relatively fertile, low-lying areas on the Agulhas Plain.

Only some 15% of the original extent of this fynbos vegetation type remains and this number continues to dwindle as farmers in the area illegally plough it up to increase the size of their grazing lands. Kudos to Maarten and his team at Farm 215 for protecting this patch including these little beauties and raising the flag for Elim fynbos conservation.