More of Swartkops: proteas and parasites

in #nature6 years ago (edited)

The bush on the hill has become quite dense and I remarked on it to my mechanic. He said that no veld fires have been through that part for many years. This is actually a bad thing, as our native plants are fire-adapted and to remain healthy, bush needs to be burned every 3 or 4 years. The biggest evidence of this is in the many proteas, which were carrying a heavy parasite burden and looking quite diseased. Fire would destroy a lot of these diseased tree branches and allow healthy rejuvenation.

witches broom.jpg

This is called witches broom and it is an infection of bacteria-like organisms that are spread from plant to plant by insects. It causes the plant to produce dense clusters of tiny leaf-like structures instead of flowers, a process known as “phyllody”. You can see old dead clumps at the bottom and side edges of the picture

mistletoe.jpg

Flower buds of Tapinanthus rubromarginatus or lighted matches, a form of mistletoe. There are large numbers of leafless branches in the affected trees, it's pretty but deadly. This mistletoe is pollinated by sunbirds.

Although parasitic plants and diseases are part of the balance of nature, heavy infestations are a sign of unhealthy bush: too many trees that have grown too big and dense because there are no longer any grazing antelope to keep them trimmed, competing for limited sunlight and water. These native trees aren't adapted to grow in forest-like settings and fire would help reduce the vegetation, allowing for healthier trees. While fire appears to be catastrophic, it's actually necessary and local ecosystems are adapted to survive.

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Yeah, I really feel sorry for the animals that get caught in the fire too. Its such a fine balance!

Nature is messy and cruel

A very interesting information.
It is true that nature has its system of equilibrium very intelligent for the cure of diseases of the species.
Nowadays, with the changes that the climate suffers, everything changes.
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greetings @armonia, it's good to see you back

So true how we view nature’s way of handling drought and excess water as a bad thing. Here , in many places they have quit doing controlled burns. This eliminated some chances of spreading wild fires. Now when lightening hits it takes months and billions of dollars in insurance money to rebuild and put things back together again. Interesting that you referred to the sprouting mistletoe as little matches. 🐓🐓

Yes, we have really screwed up the natural order. Invasive alien plants such as pines have also made the fires much more devastating in our country

Beautiful pictures!
It's amazing how nature has thought out everything !!!

What looks bad to us is often necessary

Really interesting info. We need fire as well for our native banksia trees to sprout and wild flowers.
Fire is essential.

So true, though I just feel sorry for the animals that get caught in the fire...

Many animals have strategies for surviving fires. It's a bad way to die but some culling is also necessary

Some of our plants only flower and seeds only sprout after fire

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