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C3-type grasses dominate 115 . The shrub-tree layer may vary from 1 to 20
metre height, but in the Bushveld, typically varies from 3 to 7 metres 116 . The
element may dominate the vegetation in areas which are used for grazing,
mainly by cattle or game. In the southernmost savannah vegetation types,
goats are a major stock. In some types, crops and subtropical fruit are
cultivated.
The vegetation on the plains surrounding Makgabeng is dominated by
Mixed Bushveld, while vegetation in the Makgabeng itself is Sourish Mixed
Bushveld 117 . Makgabeng therefore has a variety of plant communities which
characterise the bushveld. The vegetation in this kind of bushveld in
general, and Makgabeng in particular, varies from a dense, short bushveld
to a rather open savannah.
On shallow soil, Red Bush willow (Combretum apiculatum) dominates the
vegetation. Other trees and shrubs include Common Hook-thorn(Acasia
caffra), Sickle-bush (Dichrostachys cinerea), Live-long (Lannea discolor)
and various Grewia species. Grass species include Finger-grass (Digitaria
eriantha), Kalahari Sand Quick (Schmidtia pappophoroides), Wool Grass
(Anthephora pubescens) and various Aristida and Eragrostis species.
Species which dominate on deeper and sandier soils are Silver Cluster-leaf
115 A. B. Low and A. G. Rebelo, Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, p. 19.
116 Ibid, p. 19.
117 J. A. Van Schalkwyk, “Excavation of a Late Iron Age site in the Makgabeng, Northern
Province, Southern African Field of Archaeology, 9, 2000, p. 75.
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