This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater floodplains, along the lower stretches of rivers and around seasonal vleis and estuaries. The terrain is typically flat and the soil is rich and silty. It is restricted to a winter rainfall area.
This used to be one of the major ecosystems on the Cape Flats of Cape Town. The Cape Flats used to have a great many wetlands, rivers and seasonal vleis, but these have largely been drained and built over for housing. A few remain at places such as Rondevlei.
These ecosystems are threatened by invasive alien plants such as Kikuyu grass, Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), Red River Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) and Port Jackson (Acacia saligna), as well as the draining and diversion of water for agricultural reasons and development. A significant proportion of these wetlands have now been transformed and lost and the ecosystem as a whole is now classed as endangered. All remaining wetlands are protected by national legislation.[3][4]
A surviving patch of Cape Freshwater Wetlands in the city of Cape Town.
The "Waterblommetjie"(Aponogeton distachyos), a plant endemic to Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland.
The critically endangered Western Leopard Toad breeds in Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland.
A surviving patch of Cape Freshwater Wetlands in the city of Cape Town.
The "Waterblommetjie"(Aponogeton distachyos), a plant endemic to Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland.
The critically endangered Western Leopard Toad breeds in Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland.
