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In vivo leaching is described for dried leaf litter of Berzelia lanuginosa (Bruniaceae) and dried stem material of Elegia thyrsifera (Restionaceae), two species of sclerophyllous fynbos (Cape 'macchia') plants. The process in B. lanuginosa was characterised by darkening of the water owing to the release of humic substances, which were quantified as polyphenols using the Folin-Ciocalteau reaction. Very little leaching or colouration of the water took place during the immersion period of E. thyrsifra. After an initial decrease in both species, the pH of the water containing B. lanuginosa increased to slightly above the initial level. Early (< 12 h) pulses of ammonium were detected from both species and of phosphorus from B. lanuginosa, while in both species, nitrate levels began to rise only after about 48 h. Subsequent trends in nutrient releases substantiated our hypothesis that little or no decomposition (as opposed to leaching) took place during the experiment.