Tim Kirsten uncovers rare plant species in Kirstenhof wetland

A newspaper article about an important plant re-discovery by PCU Masters student Tim Kirsten, written by Karen Watkins, appeared this morning in the Constantiaberg Bulletin. Tim uncovered Psoralea filifolia in the Kirstenhof wetland on his daily walks along the Kirstenhof greenbelt. According to the article, "Professor Stirton said Psoralea filifolia was thought to be locally extinct on the greater Cape Flats. 'The last time this species was officially recorded on the Cape Flats, including Kirstenhof, was in the 1830s, despite botanists having searched extensively for it since. There are still small populations elsewhere in the Western Cape, but these are also threatened as the species is confined to riverbanks and seepages.'"

Tim was amazed that his hobby of taking photos on the greenbelt might lead to conservation action for an endangered species. 

Read the article here.

Image: Longleaf fountainbush (Psoralea filifolia) was thought to be locally extinct on the Cape Flats. Photo credit: Tim Kirsten.