RARE BULBS AND SUCCULENTS FROM THE GRASSLANDS OF THE FREE STATE AND NORTH WEST PROVINCES.

SUMMARY.
South Africa's grasslands are rich in bulbous and caudiciform flora. Much of this grassland has been destroyed by agriculture, mining and urban development. Some of the rare bulbs and caudiciforms found in the Free State and North West Provinces are discussed in this newsletter. Many rare grassland species are found in areas on the outskirts of towns and rural settlements. These species are however, rapidly disappearing owing to increased habitat destruction and degradation. This process is discussed with examples of species currently affected by alterations to their habitat.

Chortolirion angolense with broad spirally twisted leaves in its sandy grassveld habitat north of Odendaalsrus in the Free State.

NEWSLETTER.
The grassland on the outskirts of Odendaalsrus and Welkom in the Free State and Wolmaransstad in the North West Province have for many years been significant habitats for the preservation of rare bulbs and succulents. The same has been true of the grassland savannah west of Hammanskraal. These areas have over the last decade become significantly less in number than they were in the past. This is attributable to habitat degradation and the expansion of informal settlements.

GRASSLAND HABITAT AROUND ODENDAALSRUS AND WELKOM.
Odendaalsrus and Welkom are towns in the centre of the Free State goldfields. The establishment of mines in the vicinity of these towns has had the effect of preserving some of the grassland on mine property which would otherwise have been converted to maize fields.

The grassland around the mines is not, however, without problems. Building rubble and garden refuse is dumped on some areas of pristine habitat and the veld is in many instances being transformed by invasive alien plants.

An exceptional form of Chortolirion angolense is found in small numbers in grassland around Odendaalsrus and Welkom. The plants are characterized by broad spirally twisted leaves with copious white streaking on the upper and lower leaf surfaces. These plants have the unusual habit of growing in clumps of bulbs which is unique in Chortolirion. The Genus Chortolirion is monotypic but if it is ever respeciated very distinctive examples of these plants such as those near Odendaalsrus and Welkom, would qualify for specific or sub-specific rank.

The broad spirally twisted leaved Chortolirion angolense occurs either amongst grasses or on open sandy patches in its habitat north of Odendaalsrus. This form of C. angolense always flowers in December.

These Chortolirions are at home growing amongst short grass tufts which is usual for this genus, or out in the open in patches of gravelly sand.

Brachystelma dimorphum subspecies gratum is found sparingly near Welkom usually growing in deep sandy soil. Another widespread species is also found in sandy grassland, Brachystelma stenophyllum. Much of the habitat of both these species has been destroyed by maize farming in the Free State and North West Provinces.

Two extraordinary plants are also found at one locality on the outskirts of Welkom. These are a clump forming Drimia species with masses of coiled pubescent spirally twisted leaves and a Dipcadi species with serrated edged corkscrew-like leaves. The leaf margins are covered in rows of white bristles. These two species appear to be undescribed.

GRASSLAND NEAR WOLMARANSSTAD.
The grassland near Wolmaransstad was once home to several rare bulbs and caudiciforms. The habitat also supported a large population of Massonia jasminiflora at the north western extremity of its distribution range. Large concentrations of the rare Brachystelma incanum were found here as well as good numbers of Brachystelma foetidum and Brachystelma nanum. The last two species are well represented overall but decline sharply in numbers when the habitat is degraded.

Euphorbia gueinzii used to be very common in short sandy grassland around Wolmaransstad, often growing together with Brachystelma incanum.

Ledebouria species affinis Lebouria leptophylla is often found growing in clumps of massed thin spirally twisted leaves. These leaves are little different from those of some Getthylis species such as Gethyllis grandiflora. The plants have so far only been found in a small area north of Pretoria.

Much of the former pristine habitat near Wolmaransstad has now disappeared. A large proportion of the grassland has been destroyed by informal settlements and surface diamond prospecting which is currently taking place, has transformed much of the remainder of the habitat.

The colony of Massonia jasminiflora on the south western outskirts of the town, as well as large numbers of Nananthus transvaalensis have been destroyed by the establishment of an informal settlement in the last few years.

Brachystelma incanum is a rather scarce grassland species found mostly around Wolmaransstad in the North West Province. The area is now subject to a great deal of habitat destruction through surface diamond mine workings.

SAVANNAH GRASSLAND NEAR HAMMANSKRAAL.
The savannah grassland around Hammanskraal and to the east is gradually being destroyed by expanding informal settlements.

A stretch of grassland on the eastern outskirts of Hammanskraal used to be home to Brachystelma barberae, Brachystelma brevipedicellatum and Brachystelma circinatum. This habitat is now under a housing development. There are still areas of rich savannah grassland to the west of Hammanskraal. One of these is home to a Ledebouria species affinis Ledebouria leptophylla. The bulbs occur sparingly in short grassland and have masses of very fine spirally twisted leaves identical to those of Gethyllis grandiflora. At the time these plants were found it was initially thought that they might be a species of Gethyllis. The bulbs are currently only known from a small area of about two square kilometres, situated between several large informal settlements.

This stretch of grassland also supports two other Ledebouria species. One of them is a very robust broad leaved form of Ledebouria glauca. This is a widespread Ledebouria species but nowhere plentiful and is also absent from huge amounts of habitat that appear to be suited to its requirements. Another Ledebouria species affinis Ledebouria asperifolia is very common in areas of harder ground.

The grassveld around Welkom in the Free State harbours several interesting bulbous and cormous species. One of them is this Drimia species with coiled spirally twisted leaves. It appears to be underscribed.

The extraordinary Dipcadi species which occurs on the outskirts of Welkom is also found at this locality, in small numbers. In both areas the plants are very sparse and easily overlooked.

THE FUTURE OF GRASSLANDS AROUND TOWNS AND INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS.
Grasslands around towns and informal settlements comprise some of the last remaining habitat frequented by some of South Africa's rare plants. They are however, being destroyed and degraded at an accelerated rate. Some of them merit formal preservation particularly those which are rich in species and where natural pollination processes have been little disturbed by surrounding urbanization.