DOCSLIB.ORG

Conservation Value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an Endemic Grass- Land in Gauteng, South Africa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Conservation Value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an Endemic Grass- Land in Gauteng, South Africa Conservation value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an endemic grass- land in Gauteng, South Africa G.J. BREDENKAMP, L.R. BROWN and M.F. PFAB Bredenkamp, G.J., L.R. Brown and M.F. Pfab. 2006. Conservation value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an endemic grassland in Gauteng, South Africa. Koedoe 49(2): 59–66. Pretoria. ISSN 0075-6458. Gauteng is the most densely populated province in South Africa. Its remaining natural areas are constantly under threat from urban development and the associated impacts. Presently, the natural areas of Gauteng support a large diversity of ecosystems. One such ecosystem is the Egoli Granite Grassland, endemic to the province, poorly conserved and therefore highly threatened. This paper describes the original Egoli Granite Grassland and the anthropogenic Hyparrhenia hirta dominated grassland that has replaced it in many of the remnant areas. Human impacts on this sensitive ecosystem have resulted in an altered species composition, loss of many species, and a change from a species-rich grassland with high conservation value to a species-poor grassland with low conser- vation value. The conservation of the last remaining relicts of original Egoli Granite Grassland is essential. Keywords: Egoli Granite Grassland; conservation value; Hyparrhenia hirta, Gauteng. G.J. Bredenkamp, African Vegetation and Plant Diversity Research Centre, University of Pretoria; L.R. Brown, Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, University of South Africa; M.F. Pfab, Bioregional Planning, Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Johannesburg, 2001 South Africa. Introduction in the transition zone between the Grassland and Savanna biomes. The Egoli Granite Grassland is a type of grassland and a mapping unit (Gm10) clas- From a conservation planning or urban devel- sified under the Mesic Highveld Grassland opment viewpoint, the range of structural Bioregion according to the new Vegetation and floristic variation is considered too large Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swazi- to define Bankenveld as a single unit, even land (Mucina et al. 2005). This grassland on the reconnaissance level of vegetation was mapped as Bankenveld (veld type 61) investigation. Bredenkamp & Brown (2003) by Acocks (1988), and Rocky Highveld recognised 16 major vegetation types within Grassland (Vegetation Type 34) by Breden- Bankenveld. The Egoli Granite Grassland kamp & Van Rooyen (1996). Acocks (1988) is considered as mainly belonging to the describes the Bankenveld as a False Grass- Hyparrhenia hirta Anthropogenic Grassland veld Type. The climax vegetation of this (Bredenkamp & Brown 2003). veld type should be, according to Acocks, an Egoli Granite Grassland is restricted to the open savanna, that is a bushveld vegetation, Gauteng Province of South Africa and is but it has been changed to, and maintained located north of the Roodepoort / Krugers- as grassveld by regular veld fires. How- dorp ridge complex and stretches over a ever, Bredenkamp & Brown (2003) consider distance of approximately 35 km to Centu- Bankenveld vegetation as a mosaic of grass- rion in the north. This grassland stretches land and woodland communities controlled over a distance of approximately 50 km in a by (micro-)climatic conditions that exist in westerly direction from the R21 highway in the topographically heterogeneous landscape the east. The 28º longitude and 26º latitudi- ISSN 0075-6458 59 Koedoe 49/2 (2006) bredenkamp.indd 59 2006/10/15 10:51:01 PM PTA JHB N 10 0 10 20 Kilometers 60 0 60 120 Km Fig. 2. Dark gray represents remnant areas of poten- Fig. 1. Locality map of the Egoli Granite Grassland. tially original Egoli Granite Grassland; perennial Grey areas indicate urbanisation rivers shown. nal lines cross in the centre of this grassland ing 3 ha in Glen Austin Bird Sanctuary, 3 ha (Fig. 1). in Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, 9 ha in Ruimsig Nature Reserve, and 11 ha in the Due to high demand for developable land in Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens (Fig. 2). Gauteng, and especially the Johannesburg / The current protection status of Egoli Granite Pretoria corridor, the Egoli Granite Grassland Grassland is therefore completely inadequate, is under extreme pressure. Large areas are with only 0.1 % of the national target actually already developed for residential, industrial achieved. In order to meet South Africa’s and commercial purposes. This has led to the international obligations, it is imperative that destruction of vast tracts of this grassland. the Gauteng provincial government put in At least 61 % of Egoli Granite Grassland has place measures to improve the conservation been permanently transformed: 27 % by urban status of Egoli Granite Grassland. development (Fig. 2); 17 % by smallholdings; 12 % by agriculture (cultivated lands); and Any viable remnant patch of original Egoli 5 % by other impacts such as exotic plan- Granite Grassland must therefore be pro- tations, mining and planted pastures. An tected from transforming land uses. In order estimated additional 17 % of Egoli Granite to assess whether a valuable remnant patch Grassland is degraded due to overgrazing and will be affected by a proposed develop- the influence of edge effects associated with ment, environmental consultants involved in a highly fragmented landscape (Fahrig 2003). vegetation impact assessments are required Other effects, such as trampling, increased by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, pollutants and the infestation of weeds and Conservation and Environment (GDACE) to alien species also contribute to degradation assess the presence and condition of Egoli of this grassland. It is therefore highly likely Granite Grassland on any site proposed for that the national target for conservation of development. this grassland type, i.e., 25 % of the total As this grassland was only recently defined extent, will never be realised. with the development of the new Vegetation Egoli Granite Grassland is extremely poorly Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland conserved, with only 0.02 % (26 ha) of the (Mucina et al. 2005), very little information vegetation type currently protected, includ- on its floristic composition, condition, the Koedoe 49/2 (2006) 60 ISSN 0075-6458 bredenkamp.indd 60 2006/10/15 10:51:02 PM extent of the grassland, and the manage- Vegetation ment thereof exists, causing some confusion among nature conservationists, environmen- Current vegetation tal consultants and local authorities. The aim of this paper is therefore to provide an eco- This tall grassland occurs over vast areas, logical overview of this grassland. usually on shallow, leached soils on the Johannesburg Granite Dome. Disturbed grassland or other disturbed areas such as Physical Environment road reserves or old fields, not cultivated for some years, are also usually Hyparrhenia This area is generally characterised by rocky species-dominated and low in species rich- undulating plains representing crests, slopes ness. Although some of these tall grasslands and valley bottoms with shallow, nutrient- appear to be quite natural, they are mostly poor soils. Shallow drainage lines and vlei- associated with an anthropogenic influence like wetland areas occur in the valley bot- from recent or even iron-age times. toms. Rockiness of the soil surface is a fur- These grasslands are characterised by the ther common characteristic shared by most tall-growing dominant grass Hyparrhenia Bankenveld areas. hirta and the invader dwarf shrub Seriphium Mean monthly temperature in the study area plumosum (=Stoebe vulgaris), indicating its low successional status or degraded condi- is 16.8 ºC with a mean maximum of 22.6 ºC tion. and a mean minimum of 10.8 ºC. The mean winter temperature is 13.8 ºC and mean sum- Dense Hyparrhenia species-dominated grass- mer temperature, 25.6 ºC (Weather Bureau land mostly has low species richness, with 2000; Grobler et al. 2002). Mean annual rain- only a few other species able to establish or fall in Gauteng is 670 mm (Gauteng 1997). survive in the shade of the dense sward of tall grass. Most of these species are relict Old granitic and gneissic rocks at least 2 400 pioneers or early seral species. The most million years old (Kerfoot 1987) are exposed prominent species include the grasses Cyno- in the Egoli Granite Grassland area. The Half- don dactylon, Eragrostis chloromelas, E. way House Granites (Fig. 3) of the Johannes- racemosa, E. curvula and Aristida congesta. burg Dome are intensively weathered with Forbs are rarely encountered, though a few deep drainage lines resulting in a gently individuals of species such as Anthospermum rolling topography, with shallow, coarse, hispidulum, Pseudognaphalium luteo-album, nutrient-poor, well-drained soils. The granite Conyza albida, C. podocephala, Crabbea areas are mostly covered by grassland vege- angustifolia, Helichrysum nudifolium and tation though patches of woodland vegetation H. rugulosum are often present. The woody are found at sheltered sites on hillslopes and layer, which has a very low cover, consists of rocky outcrops within this veld type (Grobler small clumps of indigenous trees and shrubs widely scattered within this grassland. The 2000; Grobler et al. 2002, 2006). scanty woody species include the trees Rhus The Bb land type predominates over the pyroides and Ziziphus mucronata, together entire region (Land Type Survey Staff 1984, with the scandent shrub Ziziphus zeyheri- 1985, 1987) (Fig. 3). The residual granitic ana. Declared alien invasive species such as soils are very shallow
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Effect of Fire on Flowering of Hyparrhenia Hirta (L.) Stapf (C4)
    Vol. 8(14), pp. 1225-1228, 18 April, 2013 DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2013.7033 African Journal of Agricultural ISSN 1991-637X ©2013 Academic Journals Research http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR Full Length Research Paper Effect of fire on flowering of Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (C4), Merxmuellera disticha (Nees) Conert (C3) and Themeda triandra Forsskal (C4) on the Signal Hill, Cape Town, South Africa M. H. Ligavha-Mbelengwa and R. B. Bhat* Department of Botany, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo 0950, South Africa. Accepted 18 March, 2013 Flowering in Merxmuellera disticha was more strongly stimulated by fire in summer. Flowering tillers produced between 9 and 11 months after fire were significantly more abundant than those produced 21 to 24 months thereafter. Growth in terms of size of individuals was considered insignificant for analysis. Neighbored Hyparrhenia hirta showed, to a certain degree, an out-of-season growth, production and reproduction, whilst M. disticha and Themeda triandra on the same plots did not. The xylem water potential of H. hirta [-10.9(±0.29)], M. disticha [-14.6(±0.80)] and T. triandra [-13.8(±0.29)] on one stand differed significantly from one another (p < 0.0001), and that of H. hirta [-19.7(±0.81] and M. disticha [-34.5(±1.26)] on the other stand also differed significantly from each other (p < 0.0001). One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) thereof produced the following (F-ratio = 13.893; degrees of freedom = 29, p < 0.0001), and for H. hirta versus M. disticha, (F-ratio = 97.605; degrees of freedom = 23, p < 0.0001).
    [Show full text]
  • A Checklist of Lesotho Grasses
    Guidelines for Using the Checklist The genera and species are arranged in alphabetical order. Accepted genus and species names are in bold print, for example, Agrostis barbuligera. Synonyms are in italics, for example, Agrostis natalensis. Not all synonyms for a species are listed. Naturalised taxa are preceded by an asterisk, for example, Pennisetum *clandestinum. These are species that were intro- duced from outside Lesotho but now occur in the wild as part of the natural flora. Single letters after the species names, on the right-hand side of the column, indicate the distribution of species within Lesotho as reflected by the ROML and MASE collections. This indicates that a species has definitely been recorded in Lesotho. L—Lowlands F—Foothills M—Mountains S—Senqu Valley Double letters after species names, on the right-hand side of the column, indicate the distribution of species along the border with South Africa as reflected in the literature. This indicates that a species could occur in Lesotho, but has not yet been recorded. KN—KwaZulu-Natal FS—Free State EC—Eastern Cape Literature references are abbreviated as follows: G—Gibbs Russell et al. (1990) J—Jacot Guillarmod (1971) SCH—Schmitz (1984) V—Van Oudtshoorn (1999) For example, G:103 refers to page 103 in the Gibbs Russell et al. (1990) publication, Grasses of southern Africa. The seven-digit number to the right of the genus names is the numbering system followed at Kew Herbarium (K) and used in Arnold & De Wet (1993) and Leistner (2000). N M F L M Free State S Kwa-Zulu Natal Key L Lowlands Zone Maize (Mabalane) F Foothills Zone Sorghum M Mountain Zone Wheat (Maloti) S Senqu Valley Zone Peas Cattle Beans Scale 1 : 1 500 000 Sheep and goats 20 40 60 km Eastern Cape Zones of Lesotho based on agricultural practices.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation Patterns and Dynamics of Renosterveld at Agter-Groeneberg Conservancy, Western Cape, South Africa
    Vegetation Patterns and Dynamics of Renosterveld at Agter-Groeneberg Conservancy, Western Cape, South Africa By Benjamin Alan Walton Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Stellenbosch University Supervisor Professor Sue J Milton (Department of Conservation Ecology) Co-supervisors A le Roux (CapeNature) Professor L Mucina (Department of Botany and Zoology) April 2006 i Φ Poem “Colour awash over forelands of fertile clay” “When the winters’ cold and grim the Oxalis’s start to brim - they open up. The first feast for bees, in the shrubland short of trees not breeze. Sun’s rays soon last longer in the days: Babianas, Chlorophytums, Geissorhizas, Gladiolius’s, Hesperanthas, Lachenalias, Moraeas and Trachyandras spread their cheerful gaze. Accompanied by annual daisies and bright gladioli filling the air with strong scents of honey - monkey beetles waste no time as they perch upon delicate flowers, lest they are caught in the season’s showers. As if to suggest this is the best nature sends small midge flies to pollinate in jest, and surround mammals to tease their bloody channels. Another month has come and gone - not long now for the raaptol and Micranthus which provide nectar for brown butterflies and painted ladies. Then is the last sequence of bulbs - the fine white-filled fields of chinkerinchees. Grasses’ hour is now soaking up the sun displaying beautifully crafted silhouettes till summers end. As if heaven sent delicate geophytes are still producing their charm, when botanists avoid the midday sun. A brief lapse in displays until the autumn reds begin the seasonal cycles.” Figure a: From left to right: Moraea villosa (Ker Gawl.) Ker Gawl.
    [Show full text]
  • Elvis Mubamu Makady
    Large herbivore stocking rate effects on plant palatability, forage preference and soil properties in an Alluvium Fynbos-Renosterveld mosaic By Elvis Mubamu Makady Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in conservation ecology at Stellenbosch University Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Faculty of AgriSciences Supervisor: Dr. Cornelia B. Krug Co-supervisor: Professor Karen. J. Esler Date: March 2009 DECLARATION By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Signature:…………………….. Date: 03 March 2009 Copyright © 2009 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved II ABSTRACT An understanding of the interactions of herbivores, plant nutrients and soil properties is crucial for grazing management. Of particular interest are plant palatability and herbivore grazing preferences. These aspects, the focus of this thesis, were studied in a Swartland Shale Renosterveld and Swartland Alluvium Fynbos mosaic in the Western Cape of South Africa. This vegetation is classified as critically endangered due to the transformation of its landscape in favour of agricultural production and urban settlement. Pre-colonial herbivore vertebrates were hunted out by 1700, leading to a sparse knowledge of the early dynamics of the vegetation. However, currently game farmers and landowners are re-introducing selected species into the area. Thus, managers require knowledge on how to implement practical guidelines for best-practice grazing management.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Native Grass Symposium______
    1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM HELD IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA OCTOBER 10 -13, 2006 EDITOR MATT SANDERSON ASSOCIATE EDITORS PAUL ADLER SARAH GOSLEE JERRY RITCHIE HOWARD SKINNER KATHY SODER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ALLISON KAY MOWERY HOSTED BY USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE USDA, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS PUBLISHED BY OMNIPRESS MADISON, WISCONSIN This publication should be cited as: Author(s).2006.Title of paper.(inclusive pages). In M. A. Sanderson et al (eds.). Proceedings of the Fifth Eastern Native Grass Sympsoium, Harrisburg, PA, October 10 -13, 2006. 2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM_________________ SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS GENERAL ERNST CONSERVATION SEEDS PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDIFE ROUNDSTONE NATIVE SEED, LLC OTHER AMERICAN GRASS SEED PRODUCERS KASTE SEED, INC. PENNSYLVANIA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL TIMM ENTERPRISES TRUAX COMPANY, INC. USDA, AGRICUTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE PASTURE SYSTEMS & WATERSHED MANAGEMENT RESEARCH UNIT USDI, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE EXHIBITORS AGRECOL CORPORATION AG-RENEWAL, INC. BASF ERNST CONSERVATION SEEDS A. T. FERRELL COMPANY, INC. FINGER LAKES CONSERVATION SERVICES J. F. NEW MARYLAND GRAZING LANDS CONSERVATION INITIATIVE NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PLANTS, INC. PRAIRIE HABITATS, INC. ROUNDSTONE NATIVE SEED, LLC SHARP BROTHERS SEED COMPANY OF MISSOURI TRUAX COMPANY, INC. USDA, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE PASTURE SYSTEMS & WATERSHED MANAGEMENT RESEARCH UNIT USDA, FARM SERVICES AGENCY USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE PLANT MATERIALS PROGRAM USDA, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE PENNSYLVANIA ii 3 ____________________PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH EASTERN NATIVE GRASS SYMPOSIUM Introduction In February 1997 a one-day conference on native grasses in the Eastern United States was held at the Botanical Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetics of Andropogoneae (Poaceae: Panicoideae) Based on Nuclear Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer and Chloroplast Trnl–F Sequences Elizabeth M
    Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Volume 23 | Issue 1 Article 40 2007 Phylogenetics of Andropogoneae (Poaceae: Panicoideae) Based on Nuclear Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer and Chloroplast trnL–F Sequences Elizabeth M. Skendzic University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Kenosha J. Travis Columbus Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California Rosa Cerros-Tlatilpa Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso Part of the Botany Commons, and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Skendzic, Elizabeth M.; Columbus, J. Travis; and Cerros-Tlatilpa, Rosa (2007) "Phylogenetics of Andropogoneae (Poaceae: Panicoideae) Based on Nuclear Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer and Chloroplast trnL–F Sequences," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany: Vol. 23: Iss. 1, Article 40. Available at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol23/iss1/40 Aliso 23, pp. 530–544 ᭧ 2007, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden PHYLOGENETICS OF ANDROPOGONEAE (POACEAE: PANICOIDEAE) BASED ON NUCLEAR RIBOSOMAL INTERNAL TRANSCRIBED SPACER AND CHLOROPLAST trnL–F SEQUENCES ELIZABETH M. SKENDZIC,1,3,4 J. TRAVIS COLUMBUS,2 AND ROSA CERROS-TLATILPA2 1University of Wisconsin–Parkside, 900 Wood Road, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53141-2000, USA; 2Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, California 91711-3157, USA 3Corresponding author ([email protected]) ABSTRACT Phylogenetic relationships among 85 species representing 35 genera in the grass tribe Andropogo- neae were estimated from maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL–F DNA sequences. Ten of the 11 subtribes recognized by Clayton and Renvoize (1986) were sampled. Independent analyses of ITS and trnL–F yielded mostly congruent, though not well resolved, topologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Botanical Survey of Medicinal Plants
    359 Advances in Environmental Biology, 5(2): 359-370, 2011 ISSN 1995-0756 This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed ORIGINAL ARTICLE Initial Assessment of Medicinal Plants Across the Libyan Mediterranean Coast 1Louhaichi, M., 1Salkini, A.K., 2Estita, H.E. and 2Belkhir, S. 1International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo - Syria 2Agricultural Research Center (ARC) - El Baida, P.O. Box 395 - Libya Louhaichi, M., Salkini, A.K., Estita, H.E., and Belkhir, S.; Initial Assessment of Medicinal Plants across the Libyan Mediterranean Coast ABSTRACT The medicinal plants of the Libyan Mediterranean Coast represent an opportunity to reduce rural poverty in the arid and semi-arid ecosystems due to their water use efficiency, low costs of collection and cultivation, high economic returns per unit area, and the creation of new jobs within the value-added activities of processing and marketing. However, major medicinal plants in the region are in danger of extinction due to global climate change, overgrazing, uprooting, and wood cutting. Mitigating this depletion of biodiversity along the Libyan Coast requires: 1) ex-situ conservation of important plant genetic resources in the national genebank; 2) establishment of field genebanks in the two major agro-ecological zones; and 3) conservation of selected specimen in the national herbarium. During the spring and summer of 2009 and 2010 collection missions were conducted along the Libyan Mediterranean coast. The field visits occurred, and surveyed a total of 79 sites across the western and eastern coastal areas of Libya. The collection mission recorded a total of 151 species belonging to 47 families, the most dominant of which were Chenopodiaceae (20 %) followed by Fabaceae (13 %).
    [Show full text]
  • Poaceae in the Greenhouses of the Botanic Garden Of
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Fritschiana Jahr/Year: 2002 Band/Volume: 31 Autor(en)/Author(s): Teppner Herwig Artikel/Article: Poaceae in the Greenhouses of the Botanic Garden of the Institute of Botany in Graz (Austria, Europe) 1-42 © Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Poaceae in the Greenhouses of the Botanic Garden of the Institute of Botany in Graz (Austria, Europe) By 1 Herwig TEPPNER Summary: TEPPNER H. 2002. Poaceae in the greenhouses of the Botanic Garden of the Institute of Botany in Graz (Austria, Europe). - Fritschiana (Graz) 31: 1 - 42. - ISSN 1024-0306. 76 species, or as the case may be, taxa of Poaceae, grown in the greenhouses of the Botanic Garden of the Institute of Botany of the University of Graz are listed. Along with the origin (collection data) of the respective material, data of sowing and germination, synonyms, vernacular names, etc., as well as some annotations are given. Some characteristics of the seedlings of Pharus latifolius, Streptochaeta sodiroana and Streptogyna americana are also featured. Moreover, aspects of anthesis are also dis- cussed for Pharus, Pseudosasa japonica and Stenotaphrum secundatum. Information on distribution and ecology is presented for the Peruvian Muhlenbergia flexuosa. The presence of myrmecochory in Rottboellia cochinchinensis is referred to. Results of chromosome counts are reported for: Antho- xanthum amarum (2n = 86, 88), Anthoxanthum odoratum (2n = 10, 10 + 1B), Cymbopogon citratus (2n = 60), Dactylis smithii subsp. hylodes (2n = 28), Dactylis smithii subsp. smithii (2n = 14), Muhlen- bergia flexuosa (2n = 40, n = 20), and Stenotaphrum secundatum (2n = 18).
    [Show full text]
  • Ongava Grasses Checklist
    Page 1 of 5 Genus Common Name Scientific Name Form Muller Veld Grazing Acranche 1 Acranche racemosa A Acroceras 2 Nile grass Acroceras macrum PH Agrostis 3 South African bentgrass Agrostis lachnantha var. lachnantha P / A Andropogon 4 Hairy bluegrass Andropogon chinensis P Y 3 3 5 Snowflake grass Andropogon eucomus P 6 Bluegrass Andropogon gayanus var. polycladus P Y 3 3 7 Hairy blue andropogon Andropogon schirensis P Anthephora 8 Woolgrass Anthephora pubescens P Y 3 3 9 Branched woolgrass Anthephora ramosa P 10 Annual woolgrass Anthephora schinzii A Y 1 1 Aristida 11 Annual bristlegrass Aristida adscensionis A Y 1 1 12 Perennial bristlegrass Aristida congesta subsp. congesta P Y 1 1 13 Loose bristlegrass Aristida effusa A Y 1 1 14 Fox-brush Aristida hordeacea A Y 1 1 15 Hubbard’s-bristlegrass Aristida hubbardiana A 16 Giant stickgrass Aristida meridionalis P Y 2 2 17 Single-awned bristlegrass Aristida parvula A 18 Pilger’s-bristlegrass Aristida pilgeri P Y 1 1 19 Large-seeded bristlegrass Aristida rhiniochloa A Y 1 1 20 Purple three-awn Aristida scabrivalvis subsp. scabrivalvis A 21 Sandveld bristlegrass Aristida stipitata subsp. graciliflora P Y 1 1 22 Robust bristlegrass Aristida stipitata subsp. robusta P Y 1 1 23 Sandveld long-awned stickgrass Aristida stipitata subsp. stipitata P Y 1 1 Bothriochloa 24 Pinhole grass Bothriochloa insculpta P 25 Smelly grass Bothriochloa radicans P Y 1 1 Brachiaria 26 Annual brachiaria Brachiaria deflexa A Y 1 1 27 Sweet signalgrass Brachiaria eruciformis A 28 Sand brachiaria Brachiaria glomerata A
    [Show full text]
  • Correlation Between Evolutionary History, Flowering Phenology, Growth Form and Seral Status for Important Veld Grasses
    Correlation between evolutionary history, flowering phenology, growth form and seral status for important veld grasses G.E. Gibbs Russell Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria Thirty species of veld grasses were analysed for their evolu­ Introduction tionary history, flowering phenology, growth form and range of veld types. These characteristics were correlated with succes­ In developing a method to assess veld condition for pastures, sional classes as reported in the literature, and the classes Foran eta/. (1978) and Tainton eta/. (1980) have listed grass were defined on the basis of the parameters considered. The species in Natal which occur in veld that has been subjected lowest and highest sera! states were clearly distinguished to different intensities of defoliation over an extended from each other, but there was some overlap between the in­ period. They divide the grasses into three major categories. termediate class and the highest and lowest classes. Si x of the species differed from other representatives of their class. 'Decreasers' are the most valuable pasture species and are They were either in vegetation types atypical of other species of intermediate sera! status. Under conditions of under­ in their group, were known to comprise a number of ecotypes, utilization, the Decreaser species are replaced by 'Increaser or were members of hybrid complexes. I' species which are of higher sera! status. Under conditions S. Afr. J. Bot. 1983, 2: 175- 180 of over-utilization, the Decreasers are replaced by 'Increaser II' species which are of lower sera! status. In this paper, Dertig veldgrasspesies is ten opsigte van blomfenologie, the three successional states are described and defined by groeivorm, evolusionere geskiedenis en verskeidenheid veldtipes geanaliseer.
    [Show full text]
  • This Report Was Generated from the SEPASAL Database ( in August 2007. This Database Is Freely Available
    This report was generated from the SEPASAL database ( www.kew.org/ceb/sepasal ) in August 2007. This database is freely available to members of the public. SEPASAL is a database and enquiry service about useful "wild" and semi-domesticated plants of tropical and subtropical drylands, developed and maintained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. "Useful" includes plants which humans eat, use as medicine, feed to animals, make things from, use as fuel, and many other uses. Since 2004, there has been a Namibian SEPASAL team, based at the National Botanical Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture which has been updating the information on Namibian species from Namibian and southern African literature and unpublished sources. By August 2007, over 700 Namibian species had been updated. Work on updating species information, and adding new species to the database, is ongoing. It may be worth visiting the web site and querying the database to obtain the latest information for this species. Internet SEPASAL New query Edit query View query results Display help In names list include: synonyms vernacular names and display: 10 names per page Your query found 3 taxa Hyparrhenia hirta (L.)Stapf [ 1808 ] Family: POACEAE Synonyms Andropogon hirtus L. Vernacular names (Egypt) hamra [ 2255 ], hemaar [ 2255 ], hemeira [ 2255 ], homareet [ 2255 ], sabad [ 2255 ], sabat [ 2255 ], sabt [ 2255 ], safsoof [ 2255 ] (Jordan) senan [ 2255 ] (Morocco) barbou herisse [ 2255 ], himar [ 2255 ], namas [ 2255 ], safsoof [ 2255 ] (Mozambique) lupuxi [ 5480 ] (Qatar)
    [Show full text]
  • Hyparrhenia Hirta)
    Declared Plant Policy This policy relates to natural resources management under section 9(1)(d) of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act), enabling co-ordinated implementation and promotion of sound management programs and practices for the use, development or protection of natural resources of the State. Specifically, this policy provides guidance on the use and management of natural resources relating to the prevention or control of impacts caused by pest species of plants that may have an adverse effect on the environment, primary production or the community, as per object s7(1)(f) of the Act. Coolatai grass (Hyparrhenia hirta) Coolatai grass is a summer-growing perennial grass that degrades pasture by forming large unpalatable tussocks. It is a major weed in the eastern States and is now becoming established in South Australia. Management Plan for Coolatai Grass Outcomes • Protect pasture and native vegetation from encroachment by Coolatai grass. Objectives • Contain and remove priority infestations in the infested regions. • Prevent establishment of further incursions in other regions. Best Practice Implementation • Regional landscape boards and Green Adelaide to monitor further incursions and spread of Coolatai grass in the regions. • Regional landscape boards and Green Adelaide to ensure that priority infestations on private or public land are controlled. • Extension to enable landowners to recognise Coolatai grass. Regional Implementation Refer to regional management plans for further details. Region Actions Alinytjara
    [Show full text]