Proteas beneath a Sandstone Ridge

Proteas beneath a Sandstone Ridge is an original illustration set in Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. It lies in the subtropics, where the climate is warm-summer mediterranean.

Large pink protea heads rise above a dense low mosaic of fine-leaved restios and tough evergreen shrubs. Pale layered sandstone mountains form a rugged backdrop, and heavy winter-rain clouds press against the ridge while the foreground remains open and treeless.

Why does low shrubland below a rocky ridge contain such distinctive flower shapes?

The Cape's nutrient-poor sandstone soils, winter rainfall, dry summers, and recurrent fire favor compact hard-leaved plants rather than tall forest. Long isolation and sharp local changes in soil and relief helped an extraordinary number of species evolve within this small region. Proteas, reed-like restios, treeless fynbos, and folded sandstone together identify the Cape Floristic Region at a glance.

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