AN ANALYSIS OF THE FLORA OF LEGALAMEETSE NATURE-RESERVE, NORTHERN PROVINCE

Over 1530 plant taxa occurring in the 18 000 ha Legalameetse Nature Re serve (LNR) on the Drakensberg escarpment of the Northern Province are listed. Taxa are listed and arranged by genus, with species arranged alphabetically within genera. Annotations include authorities, collect or and specimen number or alternatively a literature reference and ind ication of distribution or endemism and red data category. The largest family is the Asteraceae, followed in descending order by Poaceae, Fa baceae, Liliaceae and Rubiaceae. An analysis of the level of endemism and threatened taxa on the checklist for the reserve supports the list ing of this area as an important centre of endemism (with 10 taxa pote ntially endemic to the reserve itself), which contains a high diversit y of plant species requiring conservation attention. The most importan t habitats for conservation include dry rocky grassland, upland grassl and, woodland/bushveld and forest edge. The flora shows affinities wit h the grassland biome. The number of taxa in different categories and families is compared with information available for two areas 40 km to the north and 120 km south of the study area respectively. The flora of the study is more similar to the closely situated, more tropical We stfalia area to the north, than to the southerly, more temperate area around Sable. Seventeen taxa that occur at LNR may still need to be de scribed.