EyerpoortQuartzApronveld
In the Eyerpoort Quartz Apronveld unit many distinct patches
of quartz gravels occur in the matrix Apronveld, where
asteraceous shrubs typical of the Apronveld of the Touws
region (e.g. Vrede Apronveld) are dominant and woody trees
rare. The local quartz patches have many small shrubs, e.g.
Aizoon karooicum, Anthospermum comptonii, Berkeya
cuneata, Eriocephalus grandiflorus, Euryops subcarnosus,
Hirpicium alienatum, Plumbago triste, Pteronia empetrifolia,
Pteronia paniculata, Pteronia succulenta and Salsola
verdoorniae present. Succulents are also prominent, with
Gibbaeum pubescence usually the most abundant and
conspicuous succulent on the quartz patches, but many other
succulent species (e.g. Adromischus filicaulis, Antegibbaeum
fissoides, Conophytum piluliforme, Conophytum truncatum,
Crassula columnaris, Crassula congesta, Crassula tecta,
Gibbaeum heathii, Glottiphyllum suave, Octopoma octojuge,
Octopoma quadrisepala, Sceletium tortuosum, Trichodiadema
densum, Zeuktophyllum calycinum, etc.) are also present.
Most of these small shrubs and succulents are endemic to the
quartz outcrops of the western Little Karoo. The vegetation on
these quartz patches somehow seem to be more resilient to
impacts of grazing by domestic stock than those of game
species (especially Ostrich and Springbok). Domestic stock
may have a negative impact by establishing many footpaths,
but the game species often also browse and trample these
special quartz plants to the point where they are killed and
then these sites are invaded by alien (Atriplex lindleyi ssp.
inflata) and weedy indigenous species (e.g. Augea capensis
and Galenia africana). All these weeds hold are a serious
threat as they have the ability to increase the sodium content
of the topsoil. They alter the edaphic conditions of these highly
specialized microhabitats, which can prevent the reestablishment of the original species.