Abstract
The Sneeuberg mountain complex (Eastern Cape) comprises one of the most prominent sections of the Great Escarpment in southern Africa but until now has remained one of the botanically least known regions. The Sneeuberg is a discrete orographical entity, being delimited in the east by the Great Fish River valley, in the west by the Nelspoort Interval, to the south by the Plains of Camdeboo, and to the north by the Great Karoo pediplain. The highest peaks range from 2278 to 2504 m above sea level, and the summit plateaux range from 1800 to 2100 m. Following extensive literature review and a detailed collecting programme, the Sneeuberg is reported here as having a total flora of 1195 species of which 107 (9%) are alien species, 33 (2.8%) are endemic, and 13 (1.1%) near-endemic. Five species previously reported as Drakensberg Alpine Centre (DAC) endemics are now known to occur in the Sneeuberg (representing range extensions of some 300–500 km). One-hundred-and-five species (8.8%) are DAC near-endemics, with the Sneeuberg being the western limit for most of these. Ten species (0.8%) represent disjunctions across the Karoo Interval from the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) to the Sneeuberg. In all, some 23 significant range extensions, eight new species, and several rediscoveries are recorded. We conclude by recognising the Sneeuberg as a new centre of endemism along the Great Escarpment, with floristic affinities with the Albany Centre and the DAC, and links to the CFR.
Highlights
The possibility that the Sneeuberg could be considered as a centre or sub-centre of endemism in its own right was first raised by Weimarck (1941) in his discussion on the Karoo Interval. Weimarck (1941) considered the Sneeuberg as a possible sub-centre within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), based on the presence of several disjunct CFR species
As of the end of August 2008 the Sneeuberg has a flora of 1195 species (Appendix A; updated versions of this flora will be available on the Selmar Schönland Herbarium website at http:// campus.ru.ac.za/index.php?action=category&category=2061)
With a flora comprising 1195 plant species, 33 of which are endemics (2.8% of the flora), the Sneeuberg compares well with other components of the Great Escarpment in terms of species diversity and endemism
Summary
The possibility that the Sneeuberg could be considered as a centre or sub-centre of endemism in its own right was first raised by Weimarck (1941) in his discussion on the Karoo Interval. Weimarck (1941) considered the Sneeuberg as a possible sub-centre within the CFR, based on the presence of several disjunct CFR species. Weimarck (1941) considered the Sneeuberg as a possible sub-centre within the CFR, based on the presence of several disjunct CFR species He suggested that the Sneeuberg may parallel his Hantam–Roggeveld Centre, which was considered a sub-centre of his North-west Centre. The concept of the Sneeuberg as a centre of endemism was perpetuated by Nordenstam (1969), who recognised the region as a centre of diversity and endemism for the genus Euryops Cass. His concept of the Sneeuberg Centre (or “Sneeuwbergen Centre” as published) included the Stormberg, Great Winterberg and Amatola Mountains. At the family level, Koekemoer (1996) identified eight putative centres of Asteraceae diversity in southern Africa, the Sneeuberg region being one, but termed by her the “Middelburg Centre”
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