Species source document

Conservation value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an endemic grassland in Gauteng, South Africa

Gauteng is the most densely populated province in South Africa. Its remaining natural areas are constantly under threat from urban development and the associated impacts. Presently, the natural areas of Gauteng support a large diversity of ecosystems. One such ecosystem is the Egoli Granite Grassland, endemic to the province, poorly conserved and therefore highly threatened. This paper describes the original Egoli Granite Grassland and the anthropogenic Hyparrhenia hirta dominated grassland that has replaced it in many of the remnant areas. Human impacts on this sensitive ecosystem have resulted in an altered species composition, loss of many species, and a change from a species-rich grassland with high conservation value to a species-poor grassland with low conservation value. The conservation of the last remaining relicts of original Egoli Granite Grassland is essential.

Conservation value of the Egoli Granite Grassland, an endemic grassland in Gauteng, South Africa

Linked species

Brooms-an-brushes

Acalypha angustata

Cockatoo Grass

Alloteropsis semialata

Spotted Aloe

Aloe greatheadii

Transvaal Aloe

Aloe transvaalensis

Stab Grass

Andropogon schirensis

Anthospermum hispidulum

Sixweeks Three-awn

Aristida adscensionis

Aristida canescens

Tassle Three-awn

Aristida congesta congesta

Catthorn Asparagus

Asparagus suaveolens

Aster bakeranus

Baboon Onion

Babiana hypogea

Cats Whiskers

Becium obovatum

False Love Grass

Bewsia biflora

Eye Lashes

Blepharis subvolubilis

Poison-bulb

Boophane disticha

Red-topped Signal Grass

Brachiaria serrata

Slender Sedge

Bulbostylis hispidula

White Stinkwood

Celtis africana

Chaetacanthus burchellii

White Trumpets

Chascanum hederaceum hederaceum

Cluster Green Lily

Chlorophytum fasciculatum

Flat Pricklehead

Crabbea acaulis

Narrowleaf Pricklehead

Crabbea angustifolia

Redspot Stonecrop

Crassula capitella capitella

Orange River Swamplily

Crinum bulbispermum

South African Spiny Cucumber

Cucumis zeyheri

Broad-leaved Turpentine Grass

Cymbopogon caesius

Narrowleaf Turpentine Grass

Cymbopogon pospischilii

Bermuda Grass

Cynodon dactylon

Grassveld Karmedik

Dicoma anomala

Brown Finger Grass

Digitaria brazzae

One-finger Grass

Digitaria monodactyla

Broad-leaved Blue Stem

Diheteropogon amplectens

Dwarf Elephantroot

Elephantorrhiza elephantina

Wire Grass

Elionurus muticus

Blue Love Grass

Eragrostis chloromelas

African Love Grass

Eragrostis curvula

Narrow Heart Love Grass

Eragrostis racemosa

Heartleaf Eriosema

Eriosema cordatum

Pale Felicia

Felicia muricata