A floristic analysis of the Nieuwoudtville Wild Flower Reserve north-western Cape

The Nieuwoudtville Wild Flower Reserve is located on the north-western border of the Cape Floristic Region in an ecotone between Dry Mountain Fynbos and karroid shrublands. Edaphically, the habitats included within the Reserve are dolerite flats and koppies as well as flats of weathered Dwyka tillite. Climatically, the area is semi-arid with winter rainfall. The flora of the 115-ha Reserve comprises 299 species in 198 genera. Only 5,3% of the flora is endemic to the Nieuwoudtville district. Comparisons are made with three local floras within the Succulent Karoo and with selected data from the Cape Region. Distinctive features of the Reserve flora include an unusually high proportion of geophytes (39,8%) and petaloid monocots (33,4%), a high proportion of annuals (24,4%) and a low proportion of succulent species within the Mesembryanthemaceae and Crassulaceae (3,7%). A checklist of the Reserve is given. Die Nieuwoudtville-Veldblomreservaat is geleë aan die noordwestelike grens van die Kaapse Plantkoninkryk in ’n ekotoon tussen Droë Bergfynbos en Karoo-agtige struikgewas. Edafies sluit die habitatte in die Reservaat, dolorietlaagtes en koppies sowel as verweerde Dwyka-tillietlaagtes in. Klimatologies is die gebied halfdor met ’n winterreënval. Die flora van die 115-ha Reservaat bestaan uit 299 spesies van 198 genusse. Slegs 5,3% van die flora is endemies tot die Nieuwoudtville-distrik. Vergelykings word getref met drie plaaslike floras in die Sukkulente Karoo en met geselekteerde data van die Kaapse Gebied. Uitstaande kenmerke van die Reservaatflora sluit ’n ongewoon hoë verhouding geofiete (39,8%) en petaloïede eensaadlobbige plante (33,4%), ’n hoë verhouding eenjarige plante (24,4%) en ’n lae verhouding van sukkulente spesies in die Mesembryanthemaceae en Crassulaceae (3,7%) in. ’n Spesielys van die Reservaat word gegee.