Biodiversity (1 - SRK Consulting

Figure 15. Grassland on flat sandy plains
3. Gravelly calcrete plains (=Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld)
A patch of calcrete plains occur on the apron of Hoedkop hill, with a further small
patch at the north-western end of Skefe berg mountain (See Figures 5 and 9). Where
the overlying sand is eroded away the calcrete is exposed. The calcrete may have a
thin layer of pebbles or gravel or a solid calcrete hardpan, but also have a high
proportion sand on the surface. These calcrete patches therefore form an
intermediate habitat between the floristically extremely rich Aggeneys Gravel
Vygieveld which are restricted to gravel patches on mountain plateaus, and the
sandy Bushmanland Arid Grassland plant communities. Having a high proportion of
sand on the surface, the vegetation shows similarity to the Grassland on flat sandy
plains with Stipagrostis obtusa and Stipagrostis ciliata the dominant species, while
the shrub Zygophyllum decumbens is often dominant. However, the gravel forms the
habitat for some smaller, rare succulent plant species, such as Lithops julii subsp
fulleri, Titanopsis hugo-schlechteri and Crassula mesembrianthemopsis.
SATO Aggeneys July 2011 52