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If one considers the world flora, even a quick survey will show us that there are many areas of plant diversity which have little to do with cultivated plant origins. Thus, the 'fynbos' plant formation on the very southernmost tip of South Africa is extremely diverse. In quite a small area one can find hundreds of species in quite distinct genera and even plant families.

These are very attractive and colorful but were never brought into cultivation by the indigenous people. They were not at all edible and are known today as beautiful and extraordinary examples of plant evolution. A rather similar flora exists in southern Australia, and again, none of its species was brought into cultivation.