Original Research

Major Vegetation Types of the Soutpansberg Conservancy and the Blouberg Nature Reserve, South Africa

Theo H.C. Mostert, George J. Bredenkamp, Hannes L. Klopper, Cornie Verwey, Rachel E. Mostert, Norbert Hahn
Koedoe | Vol 50, No 1 | a125 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v50i1.125 | © 2008 Theo H.C. Mostert, George J. Bredenkamp, Hannes L. Klopper, Cornie Verwey, Rachel E. Mostert, Norbert Hahn | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 January 2008 | Published: 22 October 2008

About the author(s)

Theo H.C. Mostert, University of Pretoria, South Africa
George J. Bredenkamp, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Hannes L. Klopper, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Cornie Verwey, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Rachel E. Mostert, Gauteng Department of Agriculture, South Africa
Norbert Hahn, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Abstract

The Major Megetation Types (MVT) and plant communities of the Soutpansberg Centre of Endemism are described in detail, with special reference to the Soutpansberg Conservancy and the Blouberg Nature Reserve. Phytosociological data from 442 sample plots were ordinated using a DEtrended CORrespondence ANAlysis (DECORANA) and classified using TWo-Way INdicator SPecies ANalysis (TWINSPAN). The resulting classification was further refined with table-sorting procedures based on the Braun–Blanquet floristic–sociological approach of vegetation classification using MEGATAB. Eight MVT’s were identified and described as Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana–Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra Blouberg Northern Plains Bushveld, Euclea divinorum–Acacia tortilis Blouberg Southern Plains Bushveld, Englerophytum magalismontanum–Combretum molle Blouberg Mountain Bushveld, Adansonia digitata–Acacia nigrescens Soutpansberg Arid Northern Bushveld, Catha edulis–Flueggia virosa Soutpansberg Moist Mountain Thickets, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon–Burkea africana Soutpansberg Leached Sandveld, Rhus rigida var. rigida–Rhus magalismontanum subsp. coddii Soutpansberg Mistbelt Vegetation and Xymalos monospora–Rhus chirendensis Soutpansberg Forest Vegetation.

Keywords

Phytosociology; vegetation ecology; grassland; savanna; thicket

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