Underground seed banks in South Africa that date back over 130 years have been found to contain fynbos seeds that are alive. These seed banks are natural storage areas in the soil where certain plants preserve their seeds.
Our research in the Cape Floristic Region discovered that fynbos seed banks that have survived over a century of pine plantations are viable. This means that seeds are able to germinate if the land is restored.
Fynbos is a special community of plants found only in South Africa. Some of the most famous are the proteas (big, bold flowers), ericas (delicate, bell-shaped blooms), and restios (grassy-looking reeds).
