Although possessing short beaks, Cape white eyes are often seen drinking nectar from the tubular flowers of aloes and chasmanthes
Aloes often attract sunbirds.
while airborne pollen is 'negatively
pollinated trees. Although they are
flies forming an important and con-
charged' and their mutual attrac-
insect pollinated, they still release
spicuous component of the pollina-
tion results in the removal of the
large quantities of pollen into the
tor fauna. Bees, moths and to a
potential allergy-causing pollen
atmosphere. Pines, on the other
lesser extent butterflies, are also
from the air.
hand, are totally wind pollinated.
found pollinating fynbos plants.
Both these plants are prime candi-
Birds and mammals are also known
dates for causing seasonal allergies.
to be important pollinating agents.
We know that insect pollinated
plants produce much smaller
amounts of pollen than wind polli-
Gardening in the Western Cape
nated plants do. However, the
already has its allergy-friendly solu-
Australian acacias (e.g. Acacia cy-
tion: indigenous fynbos gardening.
clops – rooikrans, Acacia saligna –
The majority of fynbos plants are
Port Jackson) are 'imperfect' insect
insect pollinated with beetles and
Some of the Proteaceae and all the
Restionaceae, however, are dioe cious and wind pollinated. The solution is simply to avoid the male
pollen producing plants and choose
While collecting nesting material, weaver birds invariably assist in the pollination of daisies.