Abstract:
Rangelands in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini contain a rich diversity of valuable
fodder trees and shrubs. This research is the first attempt to document the regional diversity and
distribution of these browse resources. Scientific publications, textbooks, databases, and published
reports were accessed to compile a database of plant species that were recorded as utilised by ruminants
and non-ruminants. Relevant forage attributes, such as functional traits as well as utilisation
traits, were added to each species record. Thereafter, distribution records were extracted from the
South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Botanical Database of South Africa and analysed
with numerical techniques to establish phytogeographical patterns. A total of 613 plant species from
76 families have been recorded, which formed seven distinct phytochoria, termed the Central Arid,
Eastern Subtropical, Highland Temperate, Moist Temperate, Northern Subtropical, Southern Temperate,
andWestern Arid browse-choria. Key families and species, as well as functional and utilisation
traits, are discussed, focusing on key species present in the browse-choria. This browse database,
together with the earlier compiled Leguminosae and Poaceae databases, will be used to prioritise
indigenous southern African plant species/infraspecific taxa to be collected for the conservation of
genetic resources and future evaluations for potential development as forage crops.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All data presented in this manuscript are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS : FIGURE S1: Clusters formed by AHC assigned to a generalist group and seven browse-choria with clear geographical boundaries; FIGURE S2: Distribution patterns of key, annual, endangered, and invasive browse of South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho; TABLE S1. A list of declared woody encroacher species, indigenous to South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho, browsed by livestock and game.
