the vegetation types and veld condition - Maremani Nature Reserve

pseudopulchellus), Shakama plum (Hexalobus monopetalus) and the Large-leaved rock fig (Ficus
abutilifolia).
The grass layer is well developed and covers on average 85% of the area. The dominant grass species
and their percentage frequency are:
Lehmann’s love grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) 74%
Herringbone grass (Pogonarthria squarrosa) 14%
Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) 10%
Annual three-awn (Aristida adscensionis) 2%
Other conspicuous grass species are Aristida transvaalensis, Danthoniopsis dinteri, Tricholaena
monachne and Digitaria milanjiana.
Herbaceous forb, fern and sedge species in this sub-community cover 5% of the area and include
Tephrosia villosa, Coleochloa pallidior and Pellaea calomelanos.
An interesting feature found in the Tshipise sandstone ridges to the south of Dawn, Frampton and
Skirbeek are the round or oval-shaped hollows on the rocky summits. These hollows are usually one to
three metres in diameter and more or less 1 metre deep. They resemble potholes and were probably
created by water and wind erosion. These ‘rock tanks’ or pools accumulate some soil at the bottom where
plants become established. During the rainy season the hollows are filled with water and the plant
species have to complete their life cycle before the pools dry up during winter. Some species are
submerged, e.g. bladder wort (Utricularia stellaris) and ‘babergras’ (Lagarosiphon crispus); floating
species are duck weed (Lemna species), rooted and floating species are the water lily (Nymphaea
caerulea) and Aponogeton junceus; and in the moist soil on the edges, sedge species (Cyperus spp.) as
well as water clover (Marsilea ephippiocarpa), Kyllinga alba and the grass Eragrostis tenella are found.
When the hollows dry out these plants survive as seed, spores or rhizomes until the next rainy season.
3. Combretum apiculatum - Danthoniopsis dinteri - Tricholaena monachne rocky outcrops
(Red bushwillow - Mountain grass - Blue-seed grass rocky outcrops)
This community occurs widespread on mostly isolated gneiss and quartzite rocky outcrops and the crests
of ridges (Figure 2). It covers approximately 763 ha (Figure 2) and occurs on shallow and gravelly red-
brown loamy sand to sandy loam soils with a rock cover varying from 40% to 100%. Slopes vary from 8 to
15°. The vegetation composition occurring on the white and black rocky outcrops is very similar.
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