Caperoses Cliffortia of the Cape Peninsula
A quick guide to Peninsula Cliffortias.
Key to species of Cliffortia on the Cape Peninsula and Cape Flats area.
Christopher Whitehouse, June 2018
A pdf can be downloaded here: ...more ↓
Cliffortia graminea
Diagnostics: grassy-leaved species that grows in seeps, multi-nerved and toothed leaves, 25–75 mm long
Habitat: permanently wet seepage areas
Notes: difficult to recognise as a Cliffortia, looks and grows just like a grass
Cliffortia longifolia
Diagnostics: grassy-leaved species that grows in streams and by lagoons, leaves the same as C. strobilifera but much larger throughout, 30–65 mm long
Habitat: edge of water or in streams
Notes: a scarce species because of its preference for places near the sea, which are threatened by human development
Cliffortia strobilifera
Diagnostics: grassy-leaved species that grows in streams, single-nerved and smooth leaves, 9–45 mm long, sometimes new shoots have leaves the same size as C. longifolia
Habitat: edge of water or in streams
Notes: very common in rivers in the rest of the Cape, but uncommon on the Peninsula
