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Bothalia - African Biodiversity & Conservation ISSN: (Online) 2311-9284, (Print) 0006-8241 Page 1 of 15 Original Research Floristic composition and species diversity of urban vegetation in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa Authors: Mamokete N.V. Dingaan1 Pieter J. du Preez2 Affiliations: 1 Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, South Africa 2 Corresponding author: Mamokete Dingaan, dingam@unisa.ac.za Dates: Received: 02 Apr. 2017 Accepted: 13 Sept. 2017 Published: 13 Nov. 2017 How to cite this article: Dingaan, M.N.V. & Du Preez, P.J., 2017, ‘Floristic composition and species diversity of urban vegetation in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa’, Bothalia 47(1), a2244. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/abc.v47i1.2244 Copyright: © 2017. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Background: Urban vegetation studies have, until recently, been relatively uncommon in South Africa. Yet, natural urban vegetation is constantly competing with and greatly impacted by urbanisation. This vegetation requires proper management and needs to be conserved because it is an important ecological infrastructure. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify the main vegetation types within the urban open spaces in the Bloemfontein metropolitan area, and to determine the floristic composition and species diversity of the area. Methods: A total of 248 relevés were classified using the TWINSPAN classification algorithm, and relationships between the communities and the environment were determined with the Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis computer programs. Species diversity was partitioned into α-, β- and γ-diversities. Results: Within the study area, 77 plant families and 248 genera, with a total of 376 plant species, were identified. The largest families are Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, whereas the largest genera are Eragrostis, Aristida, Cyperus, Asparagus and Senecio. The study area has high species richness and the most species-rich sites are found adjacent to rivers and streams, and also on the slopes of hills and ridges. The vegetation is classified under five major vegetation types and four sub-units, which show a distinct association with topography and soil texture. Conclusion: The urban vegetation of Bloemfontein is species-rich and should be properly managed and conserved. In particular, the wetlands and rocky outcrops on hills and ridges, which are the most threatened habitats in the study area, need special management. Introduction Bloemfontein is a medium-sized city in the Free State province, and is situated in a region characterised by intensive commercial farming. The farming, coupled with increased urbanisation, resulted in degradation and fragmentation of the natural vegetation. An ecological approach to urban open space planning has been suggested (Florgård 2000; Poynton & Roberts 1985; Thompson 2002), which would ensure that open space areas centrally placed in cities are linked with open spaces towards the periphery of cities by dispersal corridors such as rail and roadside vegetation, including ruderal and disturbed vegetation (Poynton & Roberts 1985). Roadsides and railway tracks can have high species richness, especially in terms of rare and endangered plant species that can be harboured in such habitats (Forman & Alexander 1998; Galera et al. 2014). The ecological approach to urban open space planning and management is a sensible and achievable objective, but it is constrained in part by lack of ecological expertise from the relevant government authorities, lack of infrastructure and financial support and also by public opinion (Cilliers, Müller & Drewes 2004). Public opinion is especially important because, for example, even though urban dwellers show a general desire for contact with nature, there is a consistently negative public perception when it comes to ruderal and spontaneous vegetation on derelict sites (Millard 2004). Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. There are immense benefits of conserving urban vegetation, which can be scientific, social and economic (Barbosa et al. 2007; Hunter 2007). Urban green space is also important for the overall well-being of the urban dwellers (Dearborn & Kark 2010; Fuller et al. 2007; Tzoulas et al. 2007). Open space within urban areas has beneficial effects on microclimate, hydrology, biodiversity and http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 2 of 15 ecological processes (Bolund & Hunhammar 1999; Federer 1976; Goddard, Dougill & Benton 2009; Godefroid & Koedam 2007). Therefore, cities with relatively large or many conserved open spaces may, for example, have higher species diversity, less water run-off, reduced noise and air pollution (Bolund & Hunhammar 1999; Litschke & Kuttler 2008; Tratalos et al. 2007; Whitford, Ennos & Handley 2001). The proper management and conservation of urban open spaces requires in-depth knowledge of the spatial distribution, floristic, structural and functional compositions of the major vegetation types (VTs) within the urban environment. The present vegetation study was initiated to identify the main VTs of the open spaces within the Bloemfontein metropolitan area, and to determine the composition and diversity of plant species found in the area. Such urban vegetation studies are relatively few in South Africa, limited to those conducted by among others Roberts (1993), Cilliers, Van Wyk and Bredenkamp (1999) and Grobler, Bredenkamp and Brown (2006). Research method and design Study area Bloemfontein extends from approximately 29°00’ to 29°15’ south and 26°07’ to 26°21’ east, with altitude ranging from 1350 m to 1450 m above sea level. According to the climate statistics from the South African Weather Service, the annual mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 24.6 °C and 7.6 °C, respectively. Rainfall mainly occurs in summer in the form of thunderstorms, and it averages 550 mm annually. The main geologic feature of the study area is the Karoo Supergroup, represented by the Tierberg Formation of the Ecca Group and the Adelaide Sub-Group of the Beaufort Group; there are also dolerite intrusions of the post-Karoo age (Johnson et al. 2006). Prominent soil groups are oxidic (Hutton form), plinthic (Bainsvlei form), duplex (Valsrivier, Swartland and Sterkspruit forms), cumulic (Oakleaf form), vertic (Arcadia form) and melanic (Milkwood form) (Fey 2010; Soil Classification Working Group 1991). Bloemfontein is situated in the Grassland Biome (Rutherford & Westfall 1994), and is part of the Central Variation of the Dry Cymbopogon-Themeda Veld (Acocks 1988). Other classifications describe Bloemfontein’s vegetation as Dry Sandy Highveld Grassland (Bredenkamp & Van Rooyen 1996) and Dry Highveld Grassland (Mucina et al. 2006). Original Research vegetation were surveyed across the study area. All plant species present in each sample plot were recorded and each was given a cover-abundance value according to the Braun– Blanquet scale (Kent & Coker 1996; Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg 1974). Plant taxonomy generally follows Germishuizen and Meyer (2003). For each relevé, habitat attributes were also noted, including rock type (geology), terrain type (topographical position) and an estimation of the percentage of rockiness of the soil surface. Soil characteristics such as soil depth, pH, organic matter and texture were used for the study. Other noted observations included the extent of soil erosion and forms of biotic influence such as utilisation by herbivores and management practices. Data analysis Phytosociological data were first captured and processed in the TURBOVEG database (Hennekens 1996a), and then exported to the MEGATAB computer program (Hennekens 1996b) for classification using TWINSPAN (Hill 1979a). The result was a synoptic table that shows a hierarchical classification of the syntaxa, with each synrelevé representing a plant community. The principle of synoptic tables is based on rating the presence of each species within a community on a constancy scale (Kent & Coker 1996; Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg 1974). An ordination technique, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) (Hill 1979b), was applied to the data set to illustrate floristic relationships between the plant communities and to detect possible relationships between the communities and the environment. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CANOCO) (Ter Braak & Šmilauer 2009), an extension of DECORANA, was also carried out to further illustrate the correlations between the vegetation data and the environmental variables. Patterns of species diversity were analysed using two types of diversity, that is, α-diversity and β-diversity, and also evenness. Two aspects of α-diversity were analysed, the first being species richness (S) that is defined as the number of species per sample plot. Because S can be exaggerated by the presence of rare species, α-diversity was also measured with the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′). It is a weighted expression of species richness and the proportion in which each species is represented in a sample plot, which is calculated as: H′ = ∑ Vegetation survey The first step of the survey entailed the stratification of vegetation prior to sampling. Stratification of the area was done on 1:50 000 scale maps and 1:30 000 aerial photographs, based on the topography and relative homogeneity of physiognomic units. The topographic units recognised were the watercourses, flat plains as well as the hills and ridges. A total of 248 relevés were compiled; 160 were compiled for the first time, while 88 were from existing data (Muller 1970; Rossouw 1983). Sample plots ranging in size between 16 m2 for the grassland vegetation and 100 m2 for the woody http://www.abcjournal.org S p ln pi, i =1 i [Eqn 1] where pi is the proportion of cover in the ith species. The cover values used were based on median values (except Category r & +) of the cover categories derived from the Braun–Blanquet cover-abundance scale: 1% for Category r & + (cf. Ma 2005), 3% for Category 1 (1%–5%), 9% for Category 2a (6%–12%), 19% for Category 2b (13%–25%), 38% for Category 3 (26%–50%), 63% for Category 4 (51%–75%) and 88% for Category 5 (76%–100%). Evenness, defined as the relative abundance of species in a unit area (Stirling & Wilsey 2001; Wilsey & Stirling 2007), was used to measure the Open Access Page 3 of 15 similarity of relative abundances of species within sample plots (Sankaran 2009). It was calculated with the Pielou’s evenness index (J′) as J ′ = H ′ ln S . [Eqn 2] A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test (using SPSS® software version 19) was then conducted to compare S, H′ and J′ between the different VTs. Beta (β) diversity was calculated to determine species turnover or the extent to which species diversity differs within the VTs. Various measures of β-diversity have been proposed over the years, but in the present study, the Whittaker’s diversity index (βw) was used because it is widely regarded as a simple but highly effective measure of β-diversity (Magurran 2004; Van der Maarel 2005). It was calculated as: β w = Stotal S ave, [Eqn 3] where Stotal is the total number of species present in each VT (γ-diversity) and Save is the average species richness (α-diversity) for each sample plot in a community. Original Research TABLE 2: A list of plant families of Bloemfontein urban areas (listed alphabetically within subdivisions) with the number of genera and species represented. Families Genera Species Pteridophyta Aspleniaceae 2 2 Azollaceae 1 1 Equisetaceae 1 1 Marsileaceae 1 1 Ophioglossaceae 1 1 Pteridaceae 2 4 Alliaceae 1 1 Amaryllidaceae 6 6 Araceae 1 1 Asparagaceae 1 6 Asphodelaceae 2 3 Colchicaceae 1 1 Commelinaceae 1 2 Cyperaceae 6 15 Hyacinthaceae 7 10 Hypoxidaceae 1 1 Iridaceae 4 6 Angiospermae Monocotyledoneae Juncaceae 1 1 Orchidaceae 1 1 Poaceae 39 67 Ruscaceae 1 2 Typhaceae 1 1 Acanthaceae 2 2 Aizoaceae 6 8 Amaranthaceae 8 15 Anacardiaceae 1 5 Apiaceae 2 2 Apocynaceae 8 8 Dicotyledoneae Results Floristic composition The vegetation of Bloemfontein is dominated by the red grass Themeda triandra with Eragrostis lehmanniana as a constant companion. Other prominent grasses are Aristida congesta, Digitaria eriantha, Sporobolus fimbriatus and Eragrostis curvula. Forbs such as Oxalis depressa, Hibiscus pusillus and Felicia muricata are widespread, but they never attain dominance within the communities. It is only in localised wetland habitats where hydrophytic sedges and other forbs dominate. The vegetation is represented by 77 families and 248 genera (Table 1). The families with the highest number of genera are Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae (Table 2), while the most diverse genera are Eragrostis, Cyperus, Aristida and Asparagus (Figure 1). A total of 376 plant species were identified for the study area: 82 play a diagnostic role, 66 are companion species and a further 228 are either localised or of very rare occurrence. Of these rare species, only 175 are presented in the synoptic table (see Appendix 1); the other 53 are excluded because of their extremely rare occurrence. Eight species are declared invasives (Department of Environmental Affairs 2016), namely Argemone ochroleuca subsp. ochroleuca, Verbena bonariensis, Gleditsia triacanthos, Cestrum laevigatum, Cuscuta TABLE 1: Composition of the vascular flora of the Bloemfontein urban areas. Vascular flora Families Species Genera Number % of total Number % of total Number % of total Pteridophyta 6 7.8 8 3.2 10 2.7 Monocotyledoneae 16 20.8 74 29.8 123 32.7 Dicotyledoneae 55 71.4 166 66.9 243 64.6 Total 77 - 248 - 376 - Araliaceae 1 1 Asteraceae 36 54 Bignoniaceae 1 1 Boraginaceae 1 1 Brassicaceae 3 4 Buddlejaceae 2 2 Cactaceae 1 3 Campanulaceae 1 1 Cannabaceae 1 1 Capparaceae 1 1 Caryophyllaceae 2 2 Celastraceae 1 1 Convolvulaceae 3 7 Dipsacaceae 1 1 Ebenaceae 2 4 Euphorbiaceae 3 5 Fabaceae 14 21 Gentianaceae 1 1 Geraniaceae 2 4 Lamiaceae 3 4 Lobeliaceae 2 2 Malvaceae 6 11 Menispermaceae 1 1 Oleaceae 2 2 Onagraceae 1 2 Oxalidaceae 1 2 Papaveraceae 2 2 Pedaliaceae 2 Source: Authors’ own work http://www.abcjournal.org 2 Table 2 continues on the page → Open Access Page 4 of 15 TABLE 2 (Continues...): A list of plant families of Bloemfontein urban areas (listed alphabetically within subdivisions) with the number of genera and species represented. Families Genera Species Plantaginaceae 1 1 Polygalaceae 3 4 Portulacaceae 2 3 Ranunculaceae 2 2 Rhamnaceae 1 1 Rosaceae 2 2 Rubiaceae 5 5 Salicaceae 1 2 Santalaceae 2 2 Scrophulariaceae 5 8 Solanaceae 4 9 Urticaceae 2 2 Vahliaceae 1 1 Verbenaceae 4 6 Zygophyllaceae 1 1 248 376 Total (77 families) Original Research TABLE 3: Habitat characteristics of the Bloemfontein vegetation types. Vegetation types Habitat 1 O. rosea–B. catharticus Wetland vegetation • • • Partly described by Rossouw (1983) Mostly restricted to the Modder River and its tributaries Also found in smaller streams, dams and pans 1.1 R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation • • Strongly associated with moist and deep soils Primarily a graminoid and forb-dominated community, with isolated dense woody stands, especially on the Modder River (species composition: forbs 58%, grasses 27%, shrubs 11% and trees 4%) 1.2 V. karroo–A. • Associated with relatively drier habitat conditions than R. laricinus Streambank lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation vegetation • Found on the streambanks and valleys, also occupies the plains adjacent to the watercourses, extending to the footslopes of hills • Associated with deep alluvial soils, especially on the valleys • Resembles dense woody stands along the banks, opening up into scrubby bushes on the plains and towards the footslopes • Consists of a large component of shrubby species and a good representation of grass and forb species (species composition: forbs 40%, grasses 22%, shrubs 29% and trees 9%) • Displays a high degree of species fidelity within the Bloemfontein area, with the highest number of diagnostic species (19 species) Source: Authors’ own work 2 O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland Occurs on the slopes of hills and ridges, and also in ravines Isolated patches also found on the footslopes and plateau Associated with habitats characterised by dolerite rocks and boulders • Woody vegetation (species composition: forbs 23%, grasses 23%, shrubs 28% and trees 26%) • A large and widely distributed vegetation type, with a high number of diagnostic species (17 species) 3 A. diffusa subsp. burkei–C. nudicaulis Succulent grassland • Hemannia Solanum Crassula Ipomoea Chenopodium Genera Senecio Searcia • • • • • • Amaranthus Panicum Eragross Arisda 3.1 D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland Cyperus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 • • Asparagus 0 • 12 13 3.2 O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland • campestris, Pennisetum villosum, Salsola kali and Convolvulus arvensis. None of the species recorded is threatened (http:// redlist.sanbi.org/). 4 A. congesta–T. triandra Grassland • Vegetation classification and ordination 5 F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland Number of species per genus Source: Authors’ own work FIGURE 1: The most diverse genera in Bloemfontein, with four or more species. The black and grey bars indicate Dicotyledoneae and Monocotyledoneae, respectively. A synoptic classification of the vegetation is presented, showing only the major VTs and not the lower ranked syntaxa constituting each VT. The following five major vegetation units and four subdivisions were recognised from the study area, as summarised in Table 3: VT 1: Oenothera rosea–Bromus catharticus Wetland vegetation VT 1.1: Rumex lanceolatus–Cyperus longus Streambed vegetation VT 1.2: Vachellia karroo– Asparagus laricinus Streambank vegetation VT 2: Olea europaea–Buddleja saligna Shrubland VT 3: Aristida diffusa subsp. burkei–Crassula nudicaulis Succulent grassland VT 3.1 Delosperma pottsii–Cotyledon orbiculata Grassland VT 3.2 Oropetium capense–Eragrostis nindensis Grassland http://www.abcjournal.org Found in the Seven Dams Conservancy, an area north of the city near the Free State Botanical Gardens Partly described by Muller (1970) Situated on the slopes and summits of hills and ridges, with dolerite rocks and boulders Consists of a unique type of vegetation not found in other parts of Bloemfontein, and shares similarities with the Karoo vegetation Found on the south, south-east, and west-facing slopes, and to a lesser extent the plateau Habitat characterised by vast dolerite rock sheets, boulders and dolerite dykes Species mostly grasses and forbs, with a low woody component (species composition: forbs 32%, grasses 34%, shrubs 30% and trees 4%) Occurs on moderately steep north and west-facing slopes of hills and valleys, also extending to the summits of hills Habitat characterised by extensive rock sheets, boulders and dolerite dykes • Soil is particularly shallow and occurs over the rocky surface, and deeper soil is encountered in depressions on the rocks or in rock crevices • Habitat type generally not suitable for the establishment of woody species (species composition: forbs 58%, grasses 29%, shrubs 12% and trees 1%) • Differentiated by 18 diagnostic species • • • • Mainly found on flat open plains in the northern and western smallholdings and farming areas on the periphery of Bloemfontein city Species composition: forbs 43%, grasses 38%, shrubs 19%, and trees 0% Mainly occurs on low-lying open plains on the periphery of the suburbs to the west of Bloemfontein city, also on natural fragmented areas in the south-western suburbs Species composition: forbs 33%, grasses 49%, shrubs 17% and trees 1% Source: Authors’ own work VT 4: Aristida congesta–Themeda triandra Grassland VT 5: Felicia muricata–Themeda triandra Grassland The DECORANA ordination plot (Figure 2) shows a clear grouping of the relevés into the VTs as classified in the synoptic table (Appendix 1). Axis 1 and Axis 2 have eigenvalues of 0.863 and 0.664, respectively. Axis 1 is positively associated with the soil moisture gradient, beginning with the D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland and the O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland on the left portion of the ordination plot, which are characteristics of relatively Open Access Page 5 of 15 Original Research dry habitats. The R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation and V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation are found towards the right end of the ordination plot because of their occurrence in wetter habitats. Axis 2 does not show any clear environmental trends. occur. The CANOCO biplot (Figure 3) reveals community correlations with soil depth, texture (clay, sand and silt contents), pH and organic matter. Axis 1 (eigenvalue 0.618) shows correlations with soil depth and clay content. Axis 2 (eigenvalue 0.553), on the other hand, is correlated with silt, organic matter, pH and sand. Soil characteristics of vegetation types Patterns of species diversity The deepest soils were recorded in the R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation (433 mm ± 78 mm) and V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation (475 mm ± 62 mm); these soils also have the highest pH of 7.2 ± 1.1 and 7.4 ± 0.9, respectively (Table 4). The O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland has the highest clay content (30% ± 5%) and organic matter content (4.65% ± 2.02%). The soils of the A. congesta–T. triandra Grassland and the F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland have the highest sand content at 76% ± 12% and 66% ± 8%, respectively. These communities also occur on relatively shallower soils with the average depth of 285 mm ± 105 mm and 205 mm ± 68 mm, respectively. No soil samples were collected for the D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland and the O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland. The collecting of samples was mainly restricted by the shallow nature of the soil, compounded by the extensive dolerite rocks and boulders in habitats where these communities The D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland, O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland, O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland and V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation have high α-diversity (both S and H′), with S of 20.7 ± 5.7, 21.2 ± 8.6, 23.9 ± 6.7 and 24.4 ± 6.2, respectively, and H′ of 2.51 ± 0.42, 2.44 ± 0.70, 2.17 ± 0.43 and 1.96 ± 0.35, respectively (Table 5). The four VTs also have high J′ (0.84 ± 0.14, 0.83 ± 0.18, 0.69 ± 0.09 and 0.62 ± 0.08, respectively) and γ-diversity (130, 115, 137 and 128, respectively). The R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation has the lowest γ-diversity (75), S (9.6 ± 4.9), H′ (1.14 ± 0.61) and J′ (0.50 ± 0.21). With regard to β-diversity, relatively low βw (5.2–6.3) was measured for the D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland, O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland, O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland and V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation. The highest βw was recorded for F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland (9.3) and R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation (7.8), while the lowest βw (5.1) was recorded for A. congesta–T. triandra Grassland. 700 Axis 2 (eigenvalue: 0.664) Discussion Rumex lanceolatus – Cyperus longus Streambed vegetation (VT 1.1) Vachellia karroo – Asparagus laricinus Streambank vegetaon (VT 1.2) Olea europaea – Buddleja saligna Shrubland (VT 2) Delosperma posii – Cotyledon orbiculata Grassland (VT 3.1) Oropeum capense – Eragross nindensis Grassland (VT 3.2) Arisda congesta – Themeda triandra Grassland (VT 4) Felicia muricata – Themeda triandra Grassland (VT 5) The R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation shares similarities with the Leersia hexandra–Schoenoplectus paludicola wetland of the slow-draining watercourses in northern Free State (Fuls, Bredenkamp & Van Rooyen 1992a). The other comparable community is the Echinochloa holubii–C. longus wetland of the Kroonstad area, described by Kooij et al. (1991). V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation is comparable to the V. karroo–A. laricinus Thornveld of the Kroonstad area (Kooij et al. 1991). This community also belongs to the V. karroo class described by Du Preez and Bredenkamp (1991). With regard to O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland, Fuls, Bredenkamp and Van Rooyen (1992b) described a related Sporobolus fimbriatus– Tarchonanthus camphoratus community of the dolerite hills of the northern Free State. 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Axis 1 (eigenvalue: 0.863) Source: Authors’ own work FIGURE 2: A Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination of the vegetation of Bloemfontein showing the relative positions of the relevés along the first two axes (Axis 1 and Axis 2). The low S measured for the R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation is typical of wetland communities, TABLE 4: Soil characteristics of the Bloemfontein vegetation types. Vegetation type Number of soil samples Soil depth (mm) Texture (%) Clay Silt Sand Organic matter (%) pH 1.1 R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation 12 433 ± 78 24 ± 5 12 ± 5 64 ± 8 1.40 ± 0.83 7.2 ± 1.1 1.2 V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation 12 475 ± 62 25 ± 8 10 ± 3 65 ± 10 1.95 ± 1.52 7.4 ± 0.9 2 O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland 23 346 ± 111 30 ± 5 18 ± 4 52 ± 7 4.65 ± 2.02 6.7 ± 0.7 3 A. diffusa subsp. burkei–C. nudicaulis Succulent Grassland† 0 - - - - - - 4 A. congesta–T. triandra Grassland 7 285 ± 105 15 ± 9 9±6 76 ± 12 0.64 ± 0.28 6.3 ± 0.5 5 F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland 17 205 ± 68 20 ± 8 14 ± 5 66 ± 8 0.93 ± 0.38 6.8 ± 0.6 Source: Authors’ own work †, No soil samples were collected for vegetation type. http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 6 of 15 because only a few species are adapted to survive in habitats where the soil is permanently waterlogged. Other wetlands in the Free State are also characterised by low species richness, for example, wetland communities of the central Free State (Muller 2002), northern Free State (Fuls 1993) and north-western Free State (Kooij 1990). In contrast, riparian zones adjacent to the wetlands are ecologically diverse and harbour different plant species. The V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation, in concurrence, has high species richness. Cilliers, Schoeman and Bredenkamp (1998) reported similar species richness patterns, characterised by low species richness in waterlogged soils compared to the drier river banks. The R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation has high βw, as there are few common species within the vegetation unit. This high species turnover can mainly be ascribed to the habitat-specific nature of hydrophytic species. The Rumex lanceolatus – Cyperus longus Streambed vegetaon (VT 1.1) Vachellia karroo – Asparagus laricinus Streambank vegetaon (VT 1.2) Olea europaea – Buddleja saligna Shrubland (VT 2) Arisda congesta – Themeda triandra Grassland (VT 4) Felicia muricata – Themeda triandra Grassland (VT 5) 1.0 Sand Depth Axis 2 (eigenvalue: 0.553) pH Clay Silt OM –1.0 –1.0 1.0 Axis 1 (eigenvalue: 0.618) Source: Authors’ own work FIGURE 3: A Canonical Correspondence Analysis biplot of sample plots and soil variables (depth [soil depth], clay [clay content], silt [silt content], sand [sand content], OM [organic matter content] and pH). Original Research F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland also has high βw, and according to Lennon et al. (2001), inflated βw could result from large differences in species richness between sample plots. There is a high variation of S in the F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland, ranging from 1 to 19. This variation is possibly because of the disturbed and unstable nature of some habitats where parts of this vegetation unit are found, such as on roadsides and along railway tracks. For example, situations where only one species was encountered in a sample plot were along roadsides where Enneapogon cenchroides was found dominating. A high H′ was recorded for the D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland and the O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland because these communities have a fairly proportionate abundance of the key species, and hence their high evenness (J′) values. On the other hand, both the high γ-diversity and S as recorded for the O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland could possibly be artefacts of sampling size and sample plot size, respectively. H′ for this unit is comparatively lower than for the former two grassland communities because of the overwhelming dominance of O. europaea, B. saligna, Grewia occidentalis and Searsia burchellii, and hence the relatively lower evenness. The overall species richness of the study area (376 species) is comparable to that of other urban areas in South Africa. For example, it is comparable to the 350 species reported by Van der Walt et al. (2015) for a study of the grassland fragments in the Tlokwe Municipal area in North-West Province. In the Pretoria–Johannesburg metropolitan area in Gauteng Province, Grobler (2000) reported a higher number of species (a total of 600), but this is most likely because of the larger size of the study area. It is, however, important to acknowledge that urban open spaces in South Africa may generally not harbour levels of species richness similar to those in formally designated conservation areas. For example, higher species richness was recorded in relatively much smaller areas of the Kruger National Park: 450 species in a 139-ha area of the Nkuhlu exclosures (Siebert & Eckhardt 2008) and 233 species in a 129-ha area of the Letaba exclosures (Siebert, Eckhardt & Siebert 2010). Nonetheless, Götze et al. (2008) reported species richness lower than in Bloemfontein and the other aforementioned urban areas: 219 species in the Mapungubwe National Park. Our study therefore confirms that urban vegetation in South TABLE 5: Species diversity of the vegetation types of the Bloemfontein area. Vegetation type† Variable Number of sample plots Species richness (S)‡ 1.1 1.2 2 3.1 3.2 4 5 19 31 58 37 34 20 49 9.6 ± 4.9a 24.4 ± 6.2b 23.9 ± 6.7b 20.7 ± 5.7bc 21.2 ± 8.6bc 16.8 ±8.3b 11.2 ± 3.3a Shannon–Weiner (H’)‡ 1.14 ± 0.61a 1.96 ± 0.35bc 2.17 ± 0.43cd 2.51 ± 0.42e 2.44 ± 0.70de 1.59 ± 0.53ab 1.27 ± 0.46a Pielou’s evenness (J’)‡ 0.50 ± 0.21a 0.62 ± 0.08ab 0.69 ± 0.09b 0.84 ± 0.14c 0.83 ± 0.18c 0.58 ± 0.14a 0.53 ± 0.17a γ-diversity 75 128 137 130 115 86 102 Whittaker’s diversity ( βw) 7.8 5.2 5.7 6.3 5.4 5.1 9.3 Source: Authors’ own work. †, Vegetation type 1.1: R. lanceolatus–C. longus Streambed vegetation, 1.2: V. karroo–A. laricinus Streambank vegetation, 2: O. europaea–B. saligna Shrubland, 3.1: D. pottsii–C. orbiculata Grassland, 3.2: O. capense–E. nindensis Grassland, 4: A. congesta–T. triandra Grassland, 5: F. muricata–T. triandra Grassland. ‡, The same letters within the lines are not significantly different at P ≤ 0.05; one relevé of Vegetation type 5 was excluded for the statistical analysis because only one species was present. http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 7 of 15 Original Research Africa can also be species rich, and should be properly managed and conserved. Cilliers, S.S., Van Wyk, E. & Bredenkamp, G.J., 1999, ‘Urban nature conservation: Vegetation of natural areas in the Potchefstroom municipal area, North West Province, South Africa’, Koedoe 42, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe. v42i1.218 Conclusion Dearborn, D.C. & Kark, S., 2010, ‘Motivations for conserving urban biodiversity’, Conservation Biology 24, 432–440. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009. 01328.x We identified five major VTs and four sub-units in the Bloemfontein area and found the wetlands and rocky outcrops to be most threatened habitats. The O. rosea– B. catharticus wetlands (VT 1) possess a large number of highly palatable species and as a result are subjected to frequent overgrazing and trampling. As a conservation measure, access to these wetland areas could be restricted and this can be achieved by fencing off the most vulnerable areas. The A. diffusa subsp. burkei–C. nudicaulis grassland of the rocky outcrops (VT 3) is threatened by the expansion of Bloemfontein city to the north. This is a botanically diverse VT that occurs exclusively in the Seven Dams Conservancy, and represents an isolated type of vegetation not found in any other parts of Bloemfontein. The area should therefore be regarded as a conservation priority because of its uniqueness and high botanic diversity. Generally, the urban vegetation of Bloemfontein is species rich and should be properly managed and conserved. There are enormous benefits that can be derived from the conservation of urban vegetation, be they scientific, social or economic. Most importantly, urban vegetation has been linked with overall human health and well-being. Acknowledgements Department of Environmental Affairs, 2016, National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act no. 10 of 2004), Alien and invasive species lists, 2016, Government Printing Works, Pretoria. 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Fuls, E.R., Bredenkamp, G.J. & Van Rooyen, N., 1992b, ‘Plant communities of the rocky outcrops of the northern Orange Free State, South Africa’, Vegetatio 103, 79–92. Galera, H., Sudnik-Wójcikowska, B., Wierzbicka, M., Jarzyna, I. & Wiłkomirski, B., 2014, ‘Structure of the flora of railway areas under various kinds of anthropopression’, Polish Botanical Journal 59, 121–130. https://doi.org/10.2478/pbj-2014-0001 Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.), 2003, ‘Plants of southern Africa: An annotated checklist’, Strelitzia 14, 1–1231. Goddard, M.A., Dougill, A.J. & Benton, T.G., 2009, ‘Scaling up from gardens: Biodiversity conservation in urban environments’, Trends in Ecology and Evolution 25, 90–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2009.07.016 Godefroid, S. & Koedam, N., 2007, ‘Urban plant species patterns are highly driven by density and function of built-up areas’, Landscape Ecology 22, 1227–1239. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9102-x Götze, A.R., Cilliers, S.S., Bezuidenhout, H. & Kellner, K., 2008, ‘Analysis of the vegetation of the sandstone ridges (Ib land type) of the north-eastern parts of the Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa’, Koedoe 50, 72–81. https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v50i1.136 Competing interests The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article. Grobler, C.H., 2000, ‘The vegetation ecology of urban open spaces in Gauteng’, MSc thesis, University of Pretoria. 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Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 Number of releves 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 SPECIES GROUP A: Diagnostic species of Oenothera rosea – Bromus catharticus Wetland vegetation Oenothera rosea II . . . III V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bromus catharticus . . I . III V . II . II . V + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gomphocarpus fruticosus . . I III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . II V . IV . I . II . I . . SPECIES GROUP B: Diagnostic species of Rumex lanceolatus – Cyperus longus Streambed vegetation Persicaria lapathifolia V V I . III . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus longus . V V III V III II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paspalum dilatatum . IV III . III V II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rumex lanceolatus . II V III . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . SPECIES GROUP C: Asparagus laricinus . . . . . . IV V V V V V III III I III I Asparagus cooperi . . . . . . II V II IV V IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bidens bipinnata . . . . . . . . V V V V V II . III I III II II . . I . . . . IV I II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ziziphus mucronata . . . I III + . . . . . . . . . V IV IV . III IV . III . III II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asparagus suaveolens . . . . . . . II II IV IV III IV III III V III IV V . . . . . V . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solanum retroflexum . . . . . V . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setaria verticillata . . . . . . III I IV V I III I III II II . II . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II V . III . II II . + . . . Opuntia vulgaris . . . . . . . + . II IV III II II I III III . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ehrharta erecta . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Searsia lancea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II . . . . . . . . . . III IV IV . . . . II . . II . V V + . . . II . . SPECIES GROUP D: Diagnostic species of Vachellia karroo – Asparagus laricinus Streambank vegetation Vachellia karroo II . I . . . IV V V V V V II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tagetes minuta . . I . . . V V V V II IV . . . . . II . . . . . . . . II . . . . . II I . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . Atriplex semibaccata . . . . . . IV IV III V V III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . II . . . II . Lepidium africanum . . I . . . II II II II . II . + . . I . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . Cynodon dactylon . . . . . V . III III II V IV II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . II . I . . . Achyranthes aspera . . . . . . . V II IV IV III IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melica decumbens . . . . . . . II II IV V IV I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oxalis corniculata . . . . . . . II IV V V V I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diospyros lycioides . . . . . . . IV . IV . V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . berkheya pinnatifida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . II . . . . . II . Clematis brachiata . . . . . . . V I Chenopodium album . . I . . . . II . IV II . Sphaeralcea bonariensis . . . . Artemisia afra . . . Cynodon incompletus . . . Setaria sphacelata . . Sonchus oleraceus . Lycium hirsutum Salvia repens . IV V IV IV I . II III I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II . . . . . . . . . . . III II I II . . III II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . II . . . II II . . III . . . . . . . . . . II II IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheilanthes eckloniana . . . Cotyledon orbiculata . . Commelina africana . . Curio radicans . Melinis repens . . . II . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II II . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V I II . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III IV . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II V V V . IV IV IV III V V III . III V II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . III . . III . IV IV II IV V . II IV V IV . II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . III II . II . . . III . II V . V V . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II II IV II III . Aloe grandidentata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Chascanum pinnatifidum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . Eustachys paspaloides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II V IV II IV IV IV V III II III . III . . II . Lantana rugosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . I IV V V II V . II II II I I . . . . . Searsia ciliata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV III V IV III V . III . V . . . I . V . Felicia filifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II I II . . . I . . Pellaea calomelanos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V II V . IV IV I . . . . . I III V II . SPECIES GROUP E: . . I I . . I . III . V V V V . V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III . . . . . . . . . . . . . II IV . . . . . . II I IV IV IV V . . II II . . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . V III . . II . . . . II V . I . I SPECIES GROUP F: . . V V IV II I I II V I . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 10 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 Number of releves 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Enneapogon scoparius . . . . . . II . . . . . I . IV III V IV II . Hyparrhenia hirta . . . . . . . . . . . . I I Selago albida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III I Stapelia grandiflora . . . . . . . . . . . . . I III I Kalanchoe paniculata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I II . V I . II II III . Pollichia campestris . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . III II II I . . II . Hermannia cuneifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II I . . Chrysocoma ciliata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II I . I I III III V II . . II I IV II . II . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . II . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . II . . . II . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III V . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . II II . I IV III IV III . I IV V IV I . III . II II . . . . SPECIES GROUP G: Diagnostic species of Olea europaea – Buddleja saligna Shrubland Olea europaea . . . . . . . . . II . IV V V V V V IV V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddleja saligna . . . . . . . . . . . . V V IV V V IV IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grewia occidentalis . . . . . . . . . . . I V V V V V V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Searsia burchellii . . . . . . . . . . . . IV IV V V V V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pavonia burchellii . . . . . . . . . . . II V III IV III IV IV V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euclea crispa subsp. crispa . . . . . . . . . . . . III III IV V V . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheilanthes hirta . . . . . . . . . . . . II V V V I . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gymnosporia polyacantha . . . . . . . . . . . . III III II III II II IV III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cussonia paniculata . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . III III II IV III . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solanum tomentosum . var. coccineum . . . . . . . . II . I II I IV III III . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ehretia rigida . . . . . . . . . II . I II I II IV V . V . . . . III . Diospyros austroafricana . . . . . . . . . . . . I II II II I V . . . . Searsia erosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . I III III I II II . . . Viscum rotundifolium . . . . . . . . . . . . I I . . Crassula lanceolata . . . . . . . I . . . . I III I IV . II I . . . Asplenium cordatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV IV V I Tarchonanthus camphoratus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III IV II III I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II III III . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPECIES GROUP H: Diagnostic species of Aristida diffusa subsp. burkei – Crassula nudicaulis Succulent Grassland . . . . . . . . . . . . . I III I . III IV III V IV V II . III III II V II V IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euryops empetrifolius . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . I . . I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III . III . II . IV . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II Aristida diffusa subsp. . Burkei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V III I V I . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albuca setosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I IV II I II IV . V . II II IV II . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . Cynanchum viminale subsp. viminale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . I I V . . . II IV IV V . V III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euphorbia mauritanica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . I I IV II III I . IV IV IV V . IV V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I III . . . . IV V . IV IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crassula nudicaulis Phyllanthus parvulus Heliophila carnosa . . . I II . . . . . . . . II I V II II I IV . . . IV IV IV . . . SPECIES GROUP I: Diagnostic species of Delosperma pottsii – Cotyledon orbiculata Grassland Delosperma pottsii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . II . V V II I V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cymbopogon caesius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euclea crispa subsp. ovata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . III II IV II IV . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wahlenbergia albens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamesbrittenia atropurpurea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II I . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lotononis laxa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V II II V V . . . SPECIES GROUP J: Diagnostic species of Oropetium capense – Eragrostis nindensis Grassland Oropetium capense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V III V V IV V . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eragrostis nindensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V II V V IV IV V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ledebouria luteola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crassula dependens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stomatium mustellinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . III . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euryops multifidus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . I . I . . I II II . II III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geigeria ornativa . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V III V II III II II . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . Ruschia spinosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV III V V . V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eragrostis trichophora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . II IV . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . I IV II II V V . . V IV . . . . II . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 11 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 Number of releves 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Tragus berteronianus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . . . II . V . . II II . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Strumaria tenella subsp. orientalis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III I II . . IV II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pelargonium minimum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . II . . II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chlorophytum fasciculatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . III II . II . IV IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lessertia annularis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . Eriocephalus spinescens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . IV V IV . III III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euphorbia rhombifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II IV . V III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus indecorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . III . . III II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pelargonium aridum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . II . II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . III . II II . . II . . . III II . . . . . . . . . . . Monsonia angustifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . II I II II . . . . . V V II . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . Osteospermum scariosum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V III II . . III . . Chloris virgata I IV . . . . . . SPECIES GROUP K: Pseudognaphalium undulatum Ruschia hamata . II . . SPECIES GROUP L: . IV II . IV . . . . . . . . . III IV IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . II . II II . I . IV . . . II . . Argemone ochroleuca . subsp. ochroleuca* . . . . . . . . II IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . I . . . . III III . . Conyza podocephala . . . . III II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . III . . I . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . III IV V . II . . . . . . . . III . II . . . . . SPECIES GROUP M: Diagnostic species of Helichrysum dregeanum – Themeda triandra Grassland . Helichrysum dregeanum . Hermannia comosa Moraea pallida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . V IV IV + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV IV . III III II . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . II . . IV II SPECIES GROUP N: Diagnostic species of Felicia muricata – Themeda triandra Grassland Panicum coloratum . . . . III . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III IV V . . . Pentzia globosa . . . . . . . . III IV IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III I . . II II . II II IV Lycium cinereum . . . . . . . IV IV V IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . II III I II . Enneapogon cenchroides . . . . . . II . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . II IV III V . II III IV V II III I . . . . . . . . . SPECIES GROUP O: Companion species Eragrostis curvula . . . . III . . III V II II IV I II III II . I . II . . . . I . V . . V . IV II I . V III . Conyza bonariensis . . I . III V IV I I V IV III I . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . II IV . . . . II . . . II . II I . . . Chaenostoma caeruleum . . . . . III . . II . . . I . . I . I I . I . . . . III . . II . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . Themeda triandra . . I . . . IV . IV IV . . I I III II III IV II I IV V III II . . IV III II IV . III V IV V V V III V V V V V IV III IV V IV V Eragrostis lehmanniana . . . . . . II III I . . . I . III I V III II IV . V . Oxalis depressa . . . . . . . IV III II IV III II IV V V I V V III IV . . Aristida congesta . . . . . . . I III V . . Digitaria eriantha . . . . . . . . I . . II . . Hibiscus pusillus . . . . . . . . II IV II . . . I II II . Sporobolus fimbriatus . . . . . . . I III . . . I II III I IV I Felicia muricata . . . . . . . . IV II II . Nidorella resedifolia . . . . . . . . V . Schkuhria pinnata . . . . . . . I Eragrostis obtusa . . . . . . . Eragrostis superba . . . . . . Senecio hastatus . . . . . . Nenax microphylla . . . . . . Cymbopogon pospischilii . . . . . Heteropogon contortus . . . . Tragus koelerioides . . . Eragrostis chloromelas . . . Senecio burchellii . . . I . . . . . . . I II II I II II I II II . II II III IV II I I . . I II II I . . II . II II . IV II V . . III IV II . II . . I . . IV III II I I III II . . . III IV II IV . V V III . . . II I II . . . . . . . . II IV V . . IV III II III II . II . IV . III IV II I V . . . . . . I . . . . . . III II II . . . II III V . IV II III . V . . II IV III II I IV . II . . . V V V III III IV IV III IV III IV II . IV . . . I II V IV II . . V IV . III II IV II . . V III IV IV V . . . II V V V V . . II . . . V V II . IV . II IV IV I II . . II . V II III III II II . . III II . II . . I . . . II . I II II . . . . . . . . I . I I . . . . . . I . . . . IV I II IV . . III I III . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . II II . . . . I V V III II III II II IV II II I III . . I . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . III . II . II IV I . IV . V II V . I . . . . I . . . I . . . III I . . . . . . . . . III IV . III III . II . IV II IV . II . II . . . III IV . III . . . . . . . . I II . . I . II I . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . I V III IV . III II . . . . . I . II . . . . II . . . . . . II II . . . II II . . . . . . . . . . . I V II IV V IV II V V . . II IV . II . . . III IV . . . . . . II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II II . II III III II III . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . I . . . III III I IV . . . IV III V II II . . I II . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . II . . II . . III III . III . . I . II III IV IV IV III V III . V . . . . . . . . . . II II II . I III II IV . . . . . III II . I I IV . . . . . II I . II . II . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 12 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 Number of releves 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Anthospermum rigidum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . II . Aristida adscensionis I II II . . . . . II . . III . . . . . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV II III . . . . . . . . . . I . II . . . III IV . V IV II I II . . Digitaria argyrograpta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV . . . II I II . . . . II . . Melolobium candicans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indigofera alternans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV V . III . I II . . . . II . Selago densiflora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . V . . II V IV V IV III II II . I III . . . . III . II Cyperus usitatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II IV III IV . . . . . V IV . . . II . . . III . . III . . . . . II V . . . . II . . . . . SPECIES GROUP P: Rare species Crinum bulbispermum IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juncus exsertus II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salix babylonica II . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alchemilla elongata . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Verbena aristigera . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leucosidea sericea . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Typha capensis . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dicoma anomala . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lemna minor . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salix mucronata V V . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus marginatus V V . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pseudoschoenus inanis V V . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hemarthria altissima V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gomphostigma virgatum V IV . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conium chaerophylloides V II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phragmites australis . . IV II . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Verbena bonariensis* II V . . . . . I . . . IV I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . Miscanthus ecklonii II IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Equisetum ramosissimum II II . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ranunculus multifidus II II . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leptochloa fusca . . I V III . Eragrostis micrantha . . . V . . Eleocharis limosa . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amaranthus species . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus denudatus . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marsilea macrocarpa . . I III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Polygonum aviculare . . I . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gleditsia triacanthos* . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Echinochloa crus-galli . . I . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amaranthus caudatus . . I . III . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . Alternanthera sessilis . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Agrostis lachnantha . . . . . V . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . Polypogon monspeliensis . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veronica anagallisaquatica . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medicago laciniata . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cotula microglossa . . I . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senecio othonniflorus . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus congestus . . I . V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Plantago lanceolata . . . . III V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lobelia thermalis . . I . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonchus nanus . . I . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melilotus albus . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medicago sativa . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . Cestrum laevigatum* . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lactuca serriola . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paspalum distichum . . I . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Searsia pyroides . . . . . . . V . . . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 13 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 Number of releves 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Pentarrhinum insipidum . . . . . . . III . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rubia horrida . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Moraea simulans . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rosenia humilis . . . . . . . I V II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Urochloa panicoides . . . . . . . . IV . II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Massonia jasminiflora . . . . . . . . II IV II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ammocharis coranica . . . . . . . . . IV II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . Solanum lichtensteinii . . . . . . . I . II . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antizoma angustifolia . . . . . . . I . II . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solanum supinum Alternanthera pungens Bulbine abyssinica . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . II III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cuscuta campestris* . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colchicum melanthioides . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duthiastrum linifolium . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celtis africana . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carex spartea . . . . . . . . . . . . II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Silene undulata . . . . . . . + . . . . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerbera piloselloides . . . . . . . . . . . . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cineraria lobata . . . . . . . . . . . . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haemanthus humilis . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II V . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonatea speciosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clutia pulchella . . . . . . . . . . . . III IV . I . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eucomis autumnalis . . . . . . . . . . . . II II . I . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eriospermum corymbosum . . . . . . . . . . . . I I . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kedrostis africana . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pupalia lappacea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . II . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennisetum villosum* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hermannia bryoniifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III I V . Aristida diffusa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II I Rhigozum obovatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Cheilanthes viridis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commelina benghalensis . . . . . . . . . . . . II . Osyris lanceolata . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sisymbrium capense . . . . . . . . . . . I III III . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . I . I III . I . I . . . Sebaea compacta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pegolettia retrofracta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pentzia sphaerocephala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ipomoea oblongata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . Senecio consanguineus . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . Panicum maximum . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . I . II . . Cineraria aspera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panicum deustum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Galium capense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eragrostis biflora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyperus obtusiflorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dicoma macrocephala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Menodora africana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elionurus muticus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raphionacme hirsuta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyllinga alba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II Talinum caffrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . I . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 14 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 Number of releves 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Schizocarphus nervosus . . . . . . Hibiscus marlothianus . . . . . Kohautia amatymbica . . . . . Ipomoea oenotheroides . . . . Euphorbia inaequilatera . . . . Salsola kali* . . . Argyrolobium pauciflorum . . . Helichrysum zeyheri . . Triraphis andropogonoides . . Indigofera filipes . . Avonia ustulata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . II . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Microchloa caffra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crassula setulosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . II II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gladiolus permeabilis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyphia triphylla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opuntia species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drimia elata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamesbrittenia aurantiaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anacampseros telephiastrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . I . . II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crassothonna protecta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I II . . . . . II . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trichodiadema barbatum Albuca prasina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . Chasmatophyllum musculinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . I IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ophioglossum polyphyllum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamesbrittenia pristisepala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crassula corallina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pteronia species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anacampseros filamentosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orbeopsis lutea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nerine laticoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tulbaghia acutiloba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . II . . Senecio inaequidens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . I . . . . Aristida stipitata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blepharis integrifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harpagophytum procumbens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eriospermum species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melolobium calycinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkheya onopordifolia Hertia pallens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . I . II Barleria macrostegia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II Trichoneura grandiglumis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhynchosia nervosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pogonarthria squarrosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . III V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthephora pubescens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hibiscus trionum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . Crotalaria sphaerocarpa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . II . . . . . . . Brunsvigia radulosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Eragrostis gummiflua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . II . . . . . . I . . Table 1-A1 continues on the page → http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access Page 15 of 15 Original Research TABLE 1-A1 (Continues...): Synoptic table of the natural vegetation of Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. Vegetation units 1 2 1.1 3 1.2 4 3.1 5 3.2 Number of releves 3 3 7 2 2 2 3 10 5 3 3 7 11 12 6 7 10 3 9 6 5 9 4 6 7 3 3 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 5 3 2 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 5 9 3 4 Cyperus rupestris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . Helichrysum aureonitens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Wahlenbergia androsacea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Amaranthus thunbergii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Chenopodium murale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Eleusine coracana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Hypoxis argentea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Amaranthus hybridus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Dimorphotheca zeyheri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . Eragrostis plana . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III II . . . . . . . . Vahlia capensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . Aristida bipartita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . . . . Setaria incrassata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . II . . . . . . Aristea bakeri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . Nemesia fruticans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . Fingerhuthia africana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II . . . . . Convolvulus arvensis* . . . . . . . I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . II II . . . . . Cyperus capensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV . . . III . . . . I . . Hermannia coccocarpa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . II . II . II . . . . . . . Panicum schinzii . . . . V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . V . . . V . II Bidens pilosa . . . . . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II III . . . Tribulus terrestris . . . . . . . . . II II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . I . . . Phyla nodiflora . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . II Scabiosa columbaria . . . . . . . . . . . Salvia verbenaca . . . . . . . . . Brachiaria eruciformis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salsola aphylla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II II I . . IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II . II . . II . . . . . I . . . . IV . . . . II . The presence of each species within a community is rated on a constancy scale as follows: r - species present in 1–5% of the relevés of a community; + - present in 6–10% of the relevés; I - present in 11–20% of the relevés; II - present in 21–40% of the relevés; III - present in 41–60% of the relevés; IV - present in 61–80% of the relevés; V - present in 81–100% of the relevés (Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg 1974; Kent & Coker 1996; Van der Maarel 2005) *, indicates invasive species (Department of Environmental Affairs 2016). http://www.abcjournal.org Open Access