Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

Northern Cape PSDF
Volume 2
December 2011
Karoo is a dwarf shrubland dominated alm ost entirely by leaf succulents such as Vygies
(Mesembryanthemacceae) and Stonecrops (Crassulaceae). Mass flowering displays occurs
annually (mainly Daisies Asteraceae) during the months of spring, often on degraded or
fallow agricultural land.
Notable plants species found in this Hotspot include the Botterboom (Tylecodon paniculatus)
and the Halfmens (Pachypodium namaquanum), a stem succulent endemic to the
Richtersveld that can grow up to four meters tall. Clusters of Halfmens trees tend to face
towards the north, giving the appearance of groups of people gazing northwards. The iconic
quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) 8 occurs in the Richtersveld and is a keystone species in the
region. The Succulent Karoo is also famous for its numerous species of lithops, tiny succulent
plants which resemble small stones. They are amongst the smallest perennial plants in the
world.
Another outstanding feature of the Succulent Karoo is the high diversity of geophytes or
bulblike plants. Most of the 630 species of geophytes are petaloid monocots in the families
Hyacinthaceae (Lachenalia, Ornithogalum), Iridaceae (Babiana, Lapeirousia, Moraea,
Romulea), Amaryllidaceae (Brunsvigia, Hessea, Strumaria) and Asphodelaceae (Bulbine,
Trachyandra). No other desert region has this diversity and splendour of bulbs.
The distinctive climatic characteristics of the Succulent Karoo make it different from all other
deserts in the world. Rainfall is reliable and predictable, falling mostly in winter and
prolonged droughts are rare. Precipitation is supplemented by heavy dewfalls and fog
generated by the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean. Another interesting feature is
the prevalence of ‘heuweltjies’ which are raised mounds of calcium‐rich soil, thought to have
been created by termites. These often support distinctive plant communities.
The Biome is threatened by overgrazing, especially on communal lands, and mining activities
(mining for diamonds, heavy minerals, gypsum, limestone, marble, monazite, kaolin,
ilmenite and titanium) continue to transform this landscape.
C.3.1.3 SAVANNA BIOME
The Savanna Biome covers the northern part of the Province. It is the largest biome in
Southern Africa, occupying 46% of its area and over one‐third of South Africa. It is
characterised by a grassy ground layer and a distinct upper layer of woody plants. Where this
upper layer is near the ground the vegetation may be referred to as Shrubveld, where it is as
dense as Woodland the intermediate stages are locally known as Bushveld. A major factor
delimiting the biome is the lack of sufficient rainfall which prevents the upper layer from
dominating, coupled with fires and grazing, which keep the grass layer dominant. Most of
the Savanna vegetation types are used for grazing, mainly by cattle or game.
In the Northern Cape and the Kalahari, the most distinctive trees are the Camel Thorn
(Acacia erioloba) and the Camphor Bush (Tarchonanthus camphorates). Other prominent
trees are the Portly Baobab (Adansonia digitata) and the Candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens).
8
Known as ‘Choje’ to the indigenous San people, the Quiver tree gets its name from the San practice of
hollowing out of the tubular branches to form quivers for their arrows.
Office of the Premier &
Department of Rural Development & Land Reform
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Dennis Moss Partnership