Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism
Encyclopedia
The Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism is situated in the coastal region overlapping the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal
and the Eastern Cape
in South Africa. It falls within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
. The region consists of grassy plateaus incised by forested ravines and gorges. The main substrate in the area is Natal Group Sandstone which was formed by sediments laid down about 500 million years ago in a rift underlying the eastern Agulhas Sea in the ancient continent of Gondwana
. The region is about 18,800 hectares in extent and lies along the coastline stretching about 15 kilometres inland with a maximum altitude of about 400 to 500 metres above sea level. The region is essentially a transition zone between sub-tropical and temperate
climates.
) and Pondo Poison Pea (Tephrosia pondoensis
).
An endemic species of lizard - the Pondo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caffrum) is also found only in this region.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
and the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
in South Africa. It falls within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot is situated in south eastern Africa below the Great Escarpment. The area stretches from the Albany Centre of Plant Endemism in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, through the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism and KwaZulu-Natal Province, the eastern...
. The region consists of grassy plateaus incised by forested ravines and gorges. The main substrate in the area is Natal Group Sandstone which was formed by sediments laid down about 500 million years ago in a rift underlying the eastern Agulhas Sea in the ancient continent of Gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
. The region is about 18,800 hectares in extent and lies along the coastline stretching about 15 kilometres inland with a maximum altitude of about 400 to 500 metres above sea level. The region is essentially a transition zone between sub-tropical and temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
climates.
Endemics
Some notable endemic plants include the Pondo Coconut (Jubaeopsis caffra), the Pondoland Ghost Bush (Raspalia trigyna), the Pondoland Conebush (Leucadendron pondoense), Pondo Khat (Catha abbottii), Pondo Waterwood (Syzygium pondoenseSyzygium pondoense
Syzygium pondoense is a species of plant in the Myrtaceae family. It is endemic to South Africa. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Sources:* Hilton-Taylor, C. et al. 1998. . Downloaded on 23 August 2007....
) and Pondo Poison Pea (Tephrosia pondoensis
Tephrosia pondoensis
Tephrosia pondoensis is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family.It is found only in South Africa.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Hilton-Taylor, C. et al. 1998. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
).
An endemic species of lizard - the Pondo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caffrum) is also found only in this region.