A checklist of vascular plants of the Amatole Mountains, eastern Cape Province/Ciskei

Abstract

A checklist of vascular plants of the Amatole Mountains is presented. The physical environment, climate and vegetation of the study area and the history of its botanical exploration are described. The mountains form part of the Winterberg Range in the eastern Cape/Ciskei region of south-eastern Africa, and cover an area of approximately 900 km2. The altitude ranges from about 700 m to 2 000 m above sea level, and the topography is very varied. The climate is warm temperate and supports various vegetation types including forest, sclerophyllous shrubland, grassland and marshland. The checklist records the occurrence of 1 215 taxa. The largest families and genera in the area contain predominantly grassland herbs. Many of the characteristic families of the Cape Floristic Region and of the arid areas of southern Africa are poorly represented in the Amatole Mountains.