A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini
Rangelands in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini contain a rich diversity of valuable fodder trees and shrubs. This research is the first attempt to document the regional diversity and distribution of these browse resources. Scientific publications, textbooks, databases, and published reports were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/7/876 |
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| author | Marike Trytsman Francuois L. Müller M. Igshaan Samuels Clement F. Cupido Abraham E. van Wyk |
| author_facet | Marike Trytsman Francuois L. Müller M. Igshaan Samuels Clement F. Cupido Abraham E. van Wyk |
| author_sort | Marike Trytsman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rangelands in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini contain a rich diversity of valuable fodder trees and shrubs. This research is the first attempt to document the regional diversity and distribution of these browse resources. Scientific publications, textbooks, databases, and published reports were accessed to compile a database of plant species that were recorded as utilised by ruminants and non-ruminants. Relevant forage attributes, such as functional traits as well as utilisation traits, were added to each species record. Thereafter, distribution records were extracted from the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Botanical Database of South Africa and analysed with numerical techniques to establish phytogeographical patterns. A total of 613 plant species from 76 families have been recorded, which formed seven distinct phytochoria, termed the Central Arid, Eastern Subtropical, Highland Temperate, Moist Temperate, Northern Subtropical, Southern Temperate, and Western Arid browse-choria. Key families and species, as well as functional and utilisation traits, are discussed, focusing on key species present in the browse-choria. This browse database, together with the earlier compiled Leguminosae and Poaceae databases, will be used to prioritise indigenous southern African plant species/infraspecific taxa to be collected for the conservation of genetic resources and future evaluations for potential development as forage crops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:08:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f26f2fa4387423faa6d7b66f39a1c2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:08:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f26f2fa4387423faa6d7b66f39a1c2f2023-11-18T19:00:30ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-07-0115787610.3390/d15070876A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and EswatiniMarike Trytsman0Francuois L. Müller1M. Igshaan Samuels2Clement F. Cupido3Abraham E. van Wyk4Agricultural Research Council—Animal Production: Rangeland and Forage Sciences, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaAgricultural Research Council—Animal Production: Rangeland and Forage Sciences, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaAgricultural Research Council—Animal Production: Rangeland and Forage Sciences, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaAgricultural Research Council—Animal Production: Rangeland and Forage Sciences, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaDepartment of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaRangelands in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini contain a rich diversity of valuable fodder trees and shrubs. This research is the first attempt to document the regional diversity and distribution of these browse resources. Scientific publications, textbooks, databases, and published reports were accessed to compile a database of plant species that were recorded as utilised by ruminants and non-ruminants. Relevant forage attributes, such as functional traits as well as utilisation traits, were added to each species record. Thereafter, distribution records were extracted from the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Botanical Database of South Africa and analysed with numerical techniques to establish phytogeographical patterns. A total of 613 plant species from 76 families have been recorded, which formed seven distinct phytochoria, termed the Central Arid, Eastern Subtropical, Highland Temperate, Moist Temperate, Northern Subtropical, Southern Temperate, and Western Arid browse-choria. Key families and species, as well as functional and utilisation traits, are discussed, focusing on key species present in the browse-choria. This browse database, together with the earlier compiled Leguminosae and Poaceae databases, will be used to prioritise indigenous southern African plant species/infraspecific taxa to be collected for the conservation of genetic resources and future evaluations for potential development as forage crops.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/7/876conservationdiversityforagegamelivestockphytochoria |
| spellingShingle | Marike Trytsman Francuois L. Müller M. Igshaan Samuels Clement F. Cupido Abraham E. van Wyk A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini Diversity conservation diversity forage game livestock phytochoria |
| title | A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini |
| title_full | A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini |
| title_fullStr | A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini |
| title_short | A Phytogeographical Classification and Survey of the Indigenous Browse Flora of South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini |
| title_sort | phytogeographical classification and survey of the indigenous browse flora of south africa lesotho and eswatini |
| topic | conservation diversity forage game livestock phytochoria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/7/876 |
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