Home Tourism Cultural Resources Nature Reserves Biodiversity Programmes Legislation Search

Expand all ~ Collapse all


Mlawula Nature Reserve - Vegetation
view photo view photo
Tambuti trees Tambuti woodland

Vegetation Types


(a) Bushclump Grassland and Open Grassland

This category includes the open grassland areas and grassland with termitaria based bushclumps found on the top of the Lubombo mountains.

(b) Moist Broadleaved Savanna

This vegetation type occurs on moister soils and is dominated by broadleaved, often deciduous species.

(c) Acacia nigrescens Savanna/Woodland

Acacia nigrescens has been used to characterise this vegetation type, although there is great variation in woody species composition within this category. For example, in the shallower soils of the southern parts of the Siphiso valley, the Acacia nigrescens woodland includes a high proportion of Grewia hexamita.

(d) Pioneer Acacia Woodland

This vegetation type occurs on areas that had previously been cultivated or cleared. They are characterised by the dominance of Acacia and Dichrostachys species.

(e) Mixed Combretaceous Woodland

On the western ridges, the dominant species is Combretum apiculatum; on the Lubombo escarpment, Combretum apiculatum is the dominant species on the lower slopes, and higher up, Combretum molle becomes the dominant species. The boundary between this category and the Acacia nigrescens Savanna/Woodland is not always clearly defined. Rocky areas on the Lubombo escarpment comprise a sub-type of this woodland where tree and shrub density is reduced by both rock sheets and loose rocks.

(f) Forest/Thicket

This category includes riverine forests, Androstachys johnsonii forests, dry Spirostachys africana thickets and open thicket mosaics (riverine, sodic and saline areas).

(i) Thickets and thicket mosaics

These vary from open thicket mosaics to closed thickets. Included in this category are those found on saline and sodic soils as well as Spirostachys africana thickets.

(ii) Lowveld Dry Forest and Thicket

This includes riverine forest. Along the Mbuluzi river, this type used to be extensive until large areas were destroyed by flooding at the time of cyclone Domoina.

(iii) Lubombo forest and thicket

Most of the forest in the ravines of the Lubombo mountains within the reserve is dry forest, but it does include some small pockets of moist forest. The dry forests include Androstachys johnsonii forests. A greater diversity of species is found along the watercourses running through the Androstachys forests as well as through the other dry forests.

Download large version of Vegetation Map (jpg, 535 KB)

Vegetation Map: Mlawula, Mbuluzi and Simunye Nature Reserves



QUICK LINKS
Site Map
Contact
Links
Reference Material
Discussions
Updates

RELATED PAGES
Mlawula Flora
Mlawula Flora Checklist
SNTC Headquarters: Parliament Road. P O Box 100, Lobamba, Swaziland. Tel: (+268) 2416 1516, 2416 1489, 2416 1179. Fax: (+268) 2416 1875, 2416 1480. Email: info@sntc.org.sz
National Museum:
Tel: (+268) 2416 1179, 2416 1875
Fax: 2416 1875
Email: curator@sntc.org.sz 		King Sobhuza II Memorial Park:
Tel: (+268) 2416 1179, 2416 1489
Fax: 2416 1875
Email: ksmp@sntc.org.sz 		Malolotja Nature Reserve:
Tel/Fax: (+268) 2444 3241
Cell: 7660 6755
Email: culturalvillage@sntc.org.sz 		Mantenga Nature Reserve:
Tel: (+268) 2416 1151
2416 1178, Fax: 2416 1480
Email: culturalvillage@sntc.org.sz 		Magadzavane Lodge
Mlawula Nature Reserve:
Tel: (+268) 2343 5108/9
Fax: 2343 5111
Email: magadzavane@sntc.org.sz