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Climate change in South Africa may threaten the sclerophyllous evergreen shrubs of this region. Available data suggest that they are not as tolerant of water stress as chaparral shrubs occurring in climatically similar California, USA.

Seventeen species from nine angiosperm families, including both fynbos and succulent karoo species, were studied at a field site in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Minimum seasonal pressure potential (P_min), xylem specific conductivity (K_s), stem strength against breakage (modulus of rupture, MOR), xylem density, theoretical vessel implosion resistance () and several fibre and vessel anatomical traits were measured.

Species displayed great variability in P_min, similar to the range reported for chaparral and karoo shrub species, but in contrast to previous reports for fynbos shrubs.

More negative P_min was associated with having greater xylem density, MOR and . There …