KORSMAN CONSERVANCY
GRASSES
, SEDGES and RUSHES
The Grassland biome is second in richness of flora only to the Cape floral kingdom, but only 2% is conserved.
The vegetation type is Highveld Mesic Grassland.
51 species of grasses are positively identified, of which 46 are indigenous. Some of the species are:
- Aristida junciformis subsp junciformis
- Brachiaria serrata
- Cynodon dactylon
- Eragrostis gummiflua
- Eragrostis curvula
- Eragrostis plana
- Echinochloa jubata
- Helictotrichon turgidulum
- Hemarthria altissima
- Hyparrhenia hirta
- Hyparrhenia tamba
- Imperata cylindrica
- Leersia hexandra
- Melinis nerviglumis
- Melinis repens
- Panicum repens
- Panicum maximum
- Setaria nigrirostris
- Setaria sphacelata var sericea
- Setaria sphacelata var sphacelata
- Setaria verticillata
- Themeda triandra
- Tristachia leucothrix
Exotic and invasive grasses are present, including the most invasive kikuyu. The encroaching Phragmites Australis reeds are also a grass.
Sedges and Rushes:
- Bulbostylis burchelli
- Bulbostylis humilis
- Bulbostylis hispidula subsp pyriformis
- Carex glomerabilis
- Cyperus congestus
- Cyperus difformis
- Cyperus eragrostis
- Cyperus esculentus
- Cyperus fastigiatus
- Cyperus laevigatus
- Cyperus longus var. tenuiflorus
- Cyperus marginatus
- Cyperus rupestris
- Cyperus squarrosus
- Cyperus textilus
- Eleocharis dregeana
- Fimbristylis complanata
- Fuirena pubescens
- Isolepis costata
- Isolepis setacea
- Kyllinga erecta var erecta
- Kyllinga pulchella
- Schoenoplectus corymbosus
- Scirpoides burkei
- Juncus dregeanus
- Juncus effusus
- Juncus exsertus
- Juncus oxycarpus
- Typha capensis
Some sedges are 'emergent' - growing in water. Others grow in damp conditions near water, and some prefer drier situations.
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Cottonwool grass
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Setaria flower being visited by a flower midge
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Echinochloa jubata grass grows in marshy places
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Scirpoides burkei sedge in grassland, visited by a Dotted Blue butterfly Tarucus sybaris
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Leersia hexandra or Rice grass flower in close-up
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Grassland sedge Eleocharis dregeana
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