A floristic analysis of the vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa

Abstract

A checklist of vascular plants of Platberg was compiled to determine species richness, rarity and endemism. The floristic analysis is part of the Department of Economic, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Free State biodiversity assessment programme and conservation management plan for Platberg. The analysis identified a total of 669 species belonging to 304 genera and 95 families, with 214 species belonging to the Monocotyledoneae and 438 species to the Dicotyledoneae. The largest family is Asteraceae with 126 species, followed by Poaceae with 73 species, Cyperaceae with 39 species, Fabaceae with 33 species, and Scrophulariaceae with 27 species. Various fynbos species were found, as well as 26 endemic/near-endemic species belonging to the Drakensberg Alpine Centre or Eastern Mountain Region. The results of this study revealed that Platberg shares inselberg floral richness and endemism that can be tracked via the Afromontane archipelago-like string of inselbergs and mountains, which stretch north through the Chimanimani Mountains, into Malawi, the Eastern Arc Mountains via Tanzania and north through Ethiopia, into Eurasia.<p><strong>Conservation implications:</strong> Platberg, as an inselberg, is a site of significant biological diversity, with high species richness, vegetation selection and ecosystem complexity. It shares floral richness and endemism via inselbergs and mountains throughout Africa. The high species richness, Red Data species and ecosystems make this area an important conservation site that should be legislated and protected.</p><p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Brand, R.F., Brown, L.R., du Preez, P.J., 2010, ‘A foristic analysis of the vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa’, <em>Koedoe</em> 52(1), Art. #710, 11 pages, DOI: 10.4102/koedoe.v52i1.710</p&gt

Biogeography of Platberg, Eastern Free State, South Africa: Links with Afromontane Regions and South African Biomes

“…The Grassland Biome with the DAC, Platberg in its centre, has provided idea habitat for the rapid spread of Asteraceae, as well as the development and radiation of grasses (Carbutt & Edwards 2004). Floristic composition for Platberg and the DAC shows Asteraceae as the largest family (Brand et al, 2010). This trend is the same for the Cape flora, with significant correlation within the top 12-20 families (Goldblatt & Manning 2000).…”

“…(Carbutt & Edwards 2004). Of the 670 species recorded on Platberg, several species are new records for the Free State and represent range extensions, or have only been collected once before (Brand et al, 2010). One of these species Struthiola angustiloba, a rare KwaZulu-Natal species was collected on Platberg.…”

“…Of these 27 are endemic or near-endemic species also found in the Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC). Only 22 alien plants occur of which most are annual Dicotyledons (Brand et al, 2010), which is a good indicator of limited human influence on the vegetation of the Platberg plateau. (Brand et al, 2010) …”

“…Biogeographically and chorologically it falls within the DAC and shares many of the same plant species and endemic taxa (Brand et al, 2010). Biogeographical and botanically the DAC is seen as a transition zone, a migratory pathway and repository for taxa of diverse regions and biomes (Killick 1963, 1978a, 1978b, Hillard & Burtt 1987, Carbutt & Edwards 2004, Mucina & Rutherford 2006.…”

The Grassland vegetation of Platberg, eastern Free State, South Africa

“…The data set contains 6 trees, 62 shrubs, 55 grasses, 23 succulents, 19 sedges, 85 geophytes, 16 ferns, and 310 forb plant species. A total of 26 Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC) endemics and 22 alien plant species were found to be present (Brand, Du Preez & Brown 2010). The variants are discussed in detail in Brand (2007) and are only listed in this paper.…”