Guiding principles for reserve management - NCC Environmental ...

Granite Lowveld (VU - Vulnerable)Granite Lowveld occurring on the uplands comprises of tall shrubland with few trees to moderatelydense low woodland dominated by Terminalia sericea, Combretum zeyheri and C. apiculatum and aground layer consisting of Pogonarthria aquarrosa, Tricholaena monachne and Eragrostis rigidior. Inthe lowland areas dense thicket to open savanna with Acacia nigrescens, Dichrostachys cinerea andGrewia bicolorin dominate the woody layer. The dense herbaceous layer is mainly comprised ofDigitaria eriantha, Panicum maximum and Aristida congesta on fine-textured soils, while brackishbottomland soils support Sporobolus mitens. A dense fringe of Terminalia sericea and Eragrostisgummiflua occurs in areas where the topography changes from convex to concave.Northern Mistbelt ForestNorthern Mistbelt Forest comprises tall evergreen afrotemperate forests forming small, fragmentedpatches. These forest patches primarily occur in east-facing areas which are excluded from fire, such assubridge scarps and moist sheltered kloofs. Dominant trees include Brachylaena transvaalensis,Combretum xymalos monospora, Podocarpus latifolius, Combretum kraussii, Curtisia dentata, Drypetesgerrardii, Kiggelaria africana, Ocotea kenyensis, Syzigium gerrardii and Olea capensis subsp.macrocarpa. Small trees such as Cassipourea malosana, Oxyanthus speciosus subsp. gerrardii andEnglerophytum megalismontanum also occur. Psychotria capensis and Canthium kruntzeanum aresome of the tall shrub species which dominate this vegetation unit. Other species include Begoniasonderiana (herb), Dietes iridioides (geophytic herbs) and Carex spicato-paniculata, Cyperus albostriatusand Oplismenus hirtellus (grasses).Biogeographically important species include the following species with regard to its southerndistribution limit: Anthocleista grandiflora (tall tree); Psychotria zombamontana and Coptospermarhodesiacum (tall shrub); Ensete venticosum and Strelitzia caudata (megaherb); and Plectranthusswynnertonii and Sphaerocionium capillare (herbs).The following species are endemics of the Barberton Centre: Faurea galpinii (Tall tree); and Duvernoiaadhatodoides (soft shrub).Plants endemic to this vegetation unit include Cryptocarya transvaalensis and Ochna gamostigmata (talltrees); Dombeya pulchra and Heteropyxis canescens (small trees); Mystacidium brayboniae (epiphyticherb); Pavetta barbertonensis (tall shrub); Streptocarpus davyi, S. fenestra-dei, S. micranthus, S.parviflorus, S. roseo-albus and S. wilmsii (herbs); and Clivia caulescens (geophytic herb).Poung Dolomite Mountain BushveldPoung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld is a shrub dominated, open to closed woodland with small treessuch as Hippobromus pauciflorus, Kirkia wilmsii, Seemannaralia gerrardii and Euphorbia tirucalli(succulent trees). Dominant shrub species include Pouzolzia mixta and Senna petersiana (tall shrubs);Asparagus intricatus, Barleria rotundifolia and Rhynchosia nitens (low shrubs); and Plectranthusxerophilus (succulent shrub). Grasses that occur in this vegetation unit include Bewsia biflora,Brachiaria serrata, Eragrostis lehmanniana and Loudetia simplex.Biogeographically important species include the following Northern Sourveld endemics: Asparagusfourei (low shrub), Chorisochora transvaalensis (soft shrub), Dracaena transvaalensis (megaherb) andHaemanthus paucifolius (geophytic herb), as well as the following Sekhukhune endemic: Lydenburgiacassinoides (small tree).Plants endemic to this vegetation unit include: Encephalartos dolomiticus and E. inopinus (small trees);Melhania integra (low shrub); Delosperma vandermerwei and Euphorbia grandialata (succulent shrubs);Barleria dolomiticola and Lotononis pariflora (herbs); Brachystelma minor, B. pravulum, GladiolusReserve Management Documents: Legalameetse Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 20