Landscape West vegetation
The Greater Cape Floristic Region consists of the Core Cape Subregion and the Extra Cape Subregion, better known as the Fynbos Biome and the Succulent Karoo Biome respectively. These biomes are considered two of Earth’s biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions or biodiversity hotspots. Only four centres of endemism have been recognised in the Succulent Karoo, of which the Knersvlakte is one.
Vegetation
Landscape West contributes to conserving a wide range of vegetation units in nature reserves, from coastal sands in Riverlands and Rocherpan nature reserves to mountainous fynbos in Groot Winterhoek and Cederberg and semi-desert in the Knersvlakte. The undulating plains of the Knersvlakte have a complex mosaic of quartz fields, exposed shale beds, dolomite outcrops and red sand plumes. Highly conspicuous are the pebble-strewn quartz fields.
Plant species of the Knersvlakte are mostly less than 50cm high and dominated by vygie dwarf shrubs with succulent leaves from the Aizoaceae. This is probably the most extensive area of “living stones” in the world. One example is the vulnerable Conophytum uviforme subsp. subincanum that occurs in the Knersvlakte Nature Reserve. One of the beautiful, but endangered, species of the Knersvlakte is Monilaria pisiformis.
A number of different vegetation units occur in Landscape West, such as Winterhoek sandstone fynbos and Breede shale fynbos, the latter listed as endangered. Landscape West conserves a large number of threatened species, such as the critically endangered Witsenberg conebush, Leucadendron chamelaea, and the beautiful but vulnerable Erica oxysepala.
Related reserves
Anysberg Nature Reserve
Anysberg Nature Reserve is located in the semi-arid Klein Karoo, between the towns of Ladismith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu. The reserve, officially proclaimed in 1990, encompasses 79 629 hectares of plains and the majestic Cape Fold Mountains, with deep valleys and steep gorges.
Rocherpan Nature Reserve
Rocherpan is a coastal nature reserve teeming with birds and colourful wildflowers. The reserve, which lies 25km north of Velddrif on the Cape West Coast, consists largely of a seasonal vlei that is usually dry between March and June.