FLORAL DIVERSITY, COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION IN

A MONTANE WETLAND IN HOGSBACK, THE EASTERN

CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

 

MOHAMED YUSSUF OMAR¹, ALFRED MAROYI²* AND JACOBUS JOHANNES VAN TOL¹

 

¹Department of Agronomy, ²Department of Botany, Faculty of Science and Agriculture,

University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa

*Corresponding author’s email: alfred.maroyi@gmail.com

 

Abstract

 

The objective of this study was to evaluate plant species diversity, composition and distribution in a montane wetland in Hogsback, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Twenty four circular plots with radius of 2m were established between March and August 2013 within Hogsback montane wetland. Within each sample plot, the habitat information and species present were recorded including Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance values for all species present in the plot. A total of 41 species belonging to 19 families and 36 genera were recorded. Of the documented species, 7.3% were exotic and endemic to South Africa, indicating diversity and dynamic nature of Hogsback montane wetland flora. Plant families with the highest number of species were: Poaceae (11 species), Asteraceae (six species), Onagraceae and Cyperaceae (three species each) and Lamiaceae with two species. The low number of exotic plant species recorded in Hogsback wetland (three species in total) indicates limited anthropogenic influences. Unique species recorded in Hogsback montane wetland were three species that are endemic to South Africa, namely, Alchemilla capensis Thunb., Helichrysum rosum (P.J. Bergius) Lees and Lysimachia nutans Nees. Five main floristic associations were identified from the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that edaphic factors, particularly area covered with water, erosion category, organic matter content and water table depth were the most important environmental variables measured accounting for the vegetation pattern present in the Hogsback montane wetland. Montane wetlands have a relatively low species richness characterised by unique species compositions which are distinctive and habitat specific.

 

Key words: Anthropogenic influence; Braun-Blanquet; Plant diversity; South Africa; Wetland montane ecosystem.