Diversity and biogeographical patterns of legumes (Leguminosae) indigenous to southern Africa

dc.contributor.authorTrytsman, Marike
dc.contributor.authorWestfall, Robert H.
dc.contributor.authorBreytenbach, Philippus J.J.
dc.contributor.authorCalitz, Frikkie J.
dc.contributor.authorVan Wyk, Abraham Erasmus (Braam)
dc.date.accessioned2016-11-29T07:45:07Z
dc.date.available2016-11-29T07:45:07Z
dc.date.issued2016-10-04
dc.descriptionThis paper is dedicated to the memory of Robert Howard (Bobby) Westfall (17 December 1944–21 January 2016), vegetation ecologist and friend whose sudden death during the preparation of this manuscript deprived us of an invaluable collaborator.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe principal aim of this study was to establish biogeographical patterns in the legume flora of southern Africa so as to facilitate the selection of species with agricultural potential. Plant collection data from the National Herbarium, South Africa, were analysed to establish the diversity and areas covered by legumes (Leguminosae/Fabaceae) indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. A total of 27,322 records from 1,619 quarter degree grid cells, representing 1,580 species, 122 genera and 24 tribes were included in the analyses. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering was applied to the presence or absence of legume species in quarter degree grid cells, the resultant natural biogeographical regions (choria) being referred to as leguminochoria. The description of the 16 uniquely formed leguminochoria focuses on defining the associated bioregions and biomes, as well as on the key climate and soil properties. Legume species with a high occurrence in a leguminochorion are listed as key species. The dominant growth form of key species, species richness and range within each leguminochorion is discussed. Floristic links between the leguminochoria are established, by examining and comparing key species common to clusters, using a vegetation classification program. Soil pH and mean annual minimum temperature were found to be the main drivers for distinguishing among legume assemblages. This is the first time that distribution data for legumes has been used to identify biogeographical areas covered by leguminochoria on the subcontinent. One potential application of the results of this study is to assist in the selection of legumes for pasture breeding and soil conservation programs, especially in arid and semi-arid environments.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentPlant Scienceen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2016en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipFinancial assistance from the University of Pretoria is acknowledged with thanks.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://phytokeys.pensoft.neten_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTrytsman M, Westfall RH, Breytenbach PJJ, Calitz FJ, Van Wyk AE (2016) Diversity and biogeographical patterns of legumes (Leguminosae) indigenous to southern Africa. PhytoKeys 70: 53–96. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.70.9147.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1314-2011 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1314-2003 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.3897/phytokeys.70.9147
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/58301
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPensoft Publishersen_ZA
dc.rightsCopyright [Trytsman et al.] This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).en_ZA
dc.subjectAgricultureen_ZA
dc.subjectAgronomyen_ZA
dc.subjectAssemblagesen_ZA
dc.subjectBiogeographyen_ZA
dc.subjectBiomesen_ZA
dc.subjectBioregionsen_ZA
dc.subjectBreedingen_ZA
dc.subjectDiversityen_ZA
dc.subjectEcologyen_ZA
dc.subjectFabaceaeen_ZA
dc.subjectFloraen_ZA
dc.subjectFloristicsen_ZA
dc.subjectGrowth formen_ZA
dc.subjectLegumesen_ZA
dc.subjectLeguminochoriaen_ZA
dc.subjectLeguminosaeen_ZA
dc.subjectPasturesen_ZA
dc.subjectPhytochoriaen_ZA
dc.subjectSoil conservationen_ZA
dc.subjectSouthern Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSpecies rangeen_ZA
dc.subjectVegetationen_ZA
dc.subjectSouth Africa (SA)en_ZA
dc.subjectSpecies richnessen_ZA
dc.titleDiversity and biogeographical patterns of legumes (Leguminosae) indigenous to southern Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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