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.

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The following 97 species were imported from this document.

Name	Vegetation type(s)	Features	Flowers & type
Brooms-an-brushes Acalypha angustata	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	yellow Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Forb Perennial
Cockatoo Grass Alloteropsis semialata	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Spotted Aloe Aloe greatheadii	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	pale pink May Jun Jul Aug Forb
Transvaal Aloe Aloe transvaalensis	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Bees Birds Good garden plant Attractive Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	pale pink Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec Forb Succulent
Stab Grass Andropogon schirensis	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Anthospermum hispidulum	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green Jan Feb Mar Nov Dec Forb Shrub
Sixweeks Three-awn Aristida adscensionis	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Pioneer species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass
Aristida canescens	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Grass
Tassle Three-awn Aristida congesta congesta	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Pioneer species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Annual Grass Perennial
Catthorn Asparagus Asparagus suaveolens	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	white Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Forb
Aster bakeranus	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Baboon Onion Babiana hypogea	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	blue Jan Feb Mar Apr May Nov Dec Forb Perennial
Cats Whiskers Becium obovatum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb Perennial
False Love Grass Bewsia biflora	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Attractive Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Eye Lashes Blepharis subvolubilis	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Poison-bulb Boophane disticha	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Red-topped Signal Grass Brachiaria serrata	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Good garden plant Attractive Useful Semi-shade Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green purple red yellow Feb Mar Apr May Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass Perennial
Slender Sedge Bulbostylis hispidula	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
White Stinkwood Celtis africana	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Butterflies Drought-resistant Good garden plant Easy to grow Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green Sep Oct Nov Tree
Chaetacanthus burchellii	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
White Trumpets Chascanum hederaceum hederaceum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Cluster Green Lily Chlorophytum fasciculatum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Flat Pricklehead Crabbea acaulis	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Narrowleaf Pricklehead Crabbea angustifolia	Egoli Granite Grassland	Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	cream white Feb Forb Perennial
Redspot Stonecrop Crassula capitella capitella	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Orange River Swamplily Crinum bulbispermum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Drought-resistant Good garden plant Easy to grow Attractive Fragrant Medicinal In water Near water Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Egoli Granite Grassland	pink white Sep Oct Nov Bulb Forb
South African Spiny Cucumber Cucumis zeyheri	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Broad-leaved Turpentine Grass Cymbopogon caesius	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Easy to grow Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green purple yellow Feb Mar Apr May Dec Grass Perennial
Narrowleaf Turpentine Grass Cymbopogon pospischilii	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Semi-shade Sun Climax species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Bermuda Grass Cynodon dactylon	Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Egoli Granite Grassland Elgin Shale Fynbos Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Drought-resistant Easy to grow Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Pioneer species Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Grass Ground cover Perennial
Grassveld Karmedik Dicoma anomala	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Medicinal Semi-shade Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	mauve/lilac pink purple white Jan Feb Mar Apr May Nov Dec Forb Perennial Shrub
Brown Finger Grass Digitaria brazzae	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Grass
One-finger Grass Digitaria monodactyla	Egoli Granite Grassland	Good garden plant Attractive Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Grass
Broad-leaved Blue Stem Diheteropogon amplectens	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Dwarf Elephantroot Elephantorrhiza elephantina	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Drought-resistant Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	cream Sep Oct Nov Dec Shrub Tree
Wire Grass Elionurus muticus	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Drought-resistant Easy to grow Attractive Fragrant Medicinal Useful Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Climax species Pioneer species Sub-climax species Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	brown green white yellow Feb Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass Ground cover
Blue Love Grass Eragrostis chloromelas	Egoli Granite Grassland	Birds Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Attractive Useful Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Grass
African Love Grass Eragrostis curvula	Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Attractive Useful Rocky habitat Sun Pioneer species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Narrow Heart Love Grass Eragrostis racemosa	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Attractive Useful Semi-shade Sun Climax species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Heartleaf Eriosema Eriosema cordatum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Butterflies Drought-resistant Attractive Medicinal Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	orange red yellow Forb Ground cover Perennial
Pale Felicia Felicia muricata	Egoli Granite Grassland	Good garden plant Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb Perennial
Thick-leaved Gladiolus Gladiolus crassifolius	Egoli Granite Grassland	Birds Drought-resistant Easy to grow Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	pink Feb Bulb Forb
Common Curryflower Gnidia capitata	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb Shrub
Common Spikethorn Gymnosporia buxifolia	Egoli Granite Grassland Elgin Shale Fynbos Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Witwatersrand	Birds Butterflies Drought-resistant Good potplant Easy to grow Hedge Fragrant Medicinal Useful Semi-shade Sun Pioneer species Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	cream green white Dec Shrub Tree
Common Falsegerbera Haplocarpha scaposa	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Good garden plant Easy to grow Near water Semi-shade Sun Soil: clay Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Feb Dec Forb Ground cover Perennial
Caterpillar Grass Harpochloa falx	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Attractive Near water Semi-shade Sun Climax species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass Perennial
Golden Everlasting Helichrysum aureonitens	Egoli Granite Grassland	Attractive Medicinal Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Sep Oct Nov Dec Forb Perennial
Helichrysum miconiifolium	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Icholocholo Helichrysum nudifolium	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Drought-resistant Good potplant Easy to grow Medicinal Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Feb Mar Apr May Dec Forb Perennial
Purpleleaf Dollsrose Hermannia depressa	Egoli Granite Grassland	Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb Ground cover
Tanglehead Heteropogon contortus	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Easy to grow Attractive Useful Semi-shade Sun Climax species Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green white yellow Feb Mar Apr May Dec Grass Perennial
Bicolour Vernonia Hilliardiella elaeagnoides	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Thatching Grass Hyparrhenia hirta	Egoli Granite Grassland Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Witwatersrand	Butterflies Grazers/browsers Drought-resistant Attractive Useful Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Pioneer species Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green white yellow Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass Perennial
Small Hypericum Hypericum aethiopicum	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Hypericum lalandii	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
African Stargrass Hypoxis hemerocallidea	Egoli Granite Grassland	Drought-resistant Good garden plant Good potplant Easy to grow Attractive Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: loam Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Feb Dec Bulb Forb
Winter Stargrass Hypoxis multiceps	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Silverleaf Stargrass Hypoxis rigidula	Egoli Granite Grassland	Good garden plant Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Bulb Forb
Obscure Morning Glory Ipomoea obscura	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Ox Morning Glory Ipomoea ommaneyi	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Justicia anagalloides	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	white Jan Feb Mar Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Forb Ground cover Perennial
Charm Trembletop Kohautia amatymbica	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	beige brown white Aug Sep Oct Nov Forb
Tough-leaved African Hyacinth Ledebouria marginata	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Drought-resistant Good potplant Easy to grow Attractive Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Egoli Granite Grassland	green pink Sep Oct Nov Dec Bulb Forb
Flat-leaved African Hyacinth Ledebouria ovatifolia	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Bookleaf Lotononis Lotononis foliosa	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Common Russet Grass Loudetia simplex	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Purple Umbrella Sedge Mariscus congestus	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Natal Grass Melinis repens	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Birds Butterflies Easy to grow Attractive Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	red Feb Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass
Boat Grass Monocymbium ceresiiforme	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Drought-resistant Easy to grow Attractive Useful Near water Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Grass Perennial
Figleaf Gemsbokbean Neorautanenia ficifolia	Egoli Granite Grassland	Drought-resistant Easy to grow Attractive Useful Sun Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	blue purple Dec Climber Forb Perennial
African Wild Olive Olea europaea africana	Egoli Granite Grassland Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Witwatersrand	Bees Birds Good garden plant Easy to grow Edible Fragrant Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	cream white Sep Oct Nov Dec Tree
Natal Buffalo Grass Panicum natalense	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Birds Attractive Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Smooth Pentanisia Pentanisia angustifolia	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Broadleaf Pentanisia Pentanisia prunelloides	Egoli Granite Grassland	Butterflies Attractive Medicinal Semi-shade Sun Soil: loam Egoli Granite Grassland	blue mauve/lilac Dec Forb Perennial
False Gentian Raphionacme hirsuta	Egoli Granite Grassland	Drought-resistant Good potplant Attractive Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	blue green mauve/lilac purple Dec Bulb Forb Perennial
Mountain Karree Rhus leptodictya	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Tree
Common Currant-rhus Rhus pyroides	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Shrub Tree
Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Butterflies Good garden plant Easy to grow Fragrant Medicinal Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	pink white Feb Sep Oct Nov Dec Forb Perennial
Golden Flat-flower Schistostephium crataegifolium	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Crimson Bluestem Schizachyrium sanguineum	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Attractive Useful Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Climax species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
African Sumac Searsia lancea	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Birds Good garden plant Easy to grow Hedge Edible Useful Semi-shade Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	green yellow Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Tree
Broom Ragwort Senecio venosus	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	yellow Aug Sep Oct Nov Forb
Common Hook-thorn Acacia Senegalia afra	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	Tree
Fringed Dropseed Sporobolus pectinatus	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass
Cape Hoarypea Tephrosia capensis	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra	Egoli Granite Grassland Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Good garden plant Easy to grow Attractive Useful Semi-shade Sun Climax species Soil: clay Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Feb Mar Apr May Sep Oct Nov Dec Grass Perennial
Spiked Crinkleawn Trachypogon spicatus	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass Perennial
Rolling Grass Trichoneura grandiglumis	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass
Hairy Trident Grass Tristachya leucothrix	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Grazers/browsers Attractive Near water Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Climax species Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass
Tristachya rehmannii	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Rocky habitat Semi-shade Sun Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Grass
Maagbossie Triumfetta sonderi	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Butterflies Drought-resistant Easy to grow Attractive Medicinal Useful Sun Pioneer species Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Feb Dec Forb Shrub
Pungent Wild Garlic Tulbaghia acutiloba	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Butterflies Drought-resistant Good potplant Easy to grow Edible Fragrant Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	green orange Sep Oct Nov Dec Bulb Forb
Boqo Morning Glory Turbina oblongata	Egoli Granite Grassland	Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb
Little Paraseed Ursinia nana	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Butterflies Good potplant Easy to grow Attractive Sun Pioneer species Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	yellow Sep Oct Nov Annual Forb
Silver Vernonia Vernonia natalensis	Egoli Granite Grassland	Sun Egoli Granite Grassland	Forb Perennial
Buffalo-thorn Ziziphus mucronata	Egoli Granite Grassland Witwatersrand	Bees Butterflies Good garden plant Easy to grow Edible Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: clay Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland Gauteng	green yellow Feb Dec Tree
Dwarf Buffalothorn Ziziphus zeyheriana	Egoli Granite Grassland	Bees Birds Butterflies Drought-resistant Easy to grow Medicinal Useful Sun Soil: loam Soil: sandy Egoli Granite Grassland	green yellow Sep Oct Nov Dec Shrub Tree

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Braamfontein Spruit Ecological Corridor

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

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