PROTEA CAFFRA TREES AT MELVILLE KOPPIES

Typical highveld grassland biome proteas have pink bracts cupping many flowers, and long stamens tipped with pink anthers. They have a sweet smell and there are dense communities of these trees, mostly on the west facing slopes of Melville Koppies.

However, there are several protea trees that have orange bracts with orange anthers. They glow and also have a sweet smell. All are trees, except for one which is a re-sprouter that regularly survives frequent fires.

Botanists, including protea expert Tony Rebelo, have visited the trees and DNA testing has also been done. The answer seems to be that the orange varieties are hybrids/variants. Proteas thrive at Melville Koppies because of the thin, acidic soils produced by the three billion year old quartzite ridges which provide good drainage. Fertile seeds grow in the microclimate of the surrounding grasslands.

Melville Koppies is open to the public every Sunday morning from 8am until 11.30 am. The entrance fee is R90 per person and R50 for people under 18. All funds are used for the maintenance of the Koppies.

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