Vegetation

The vegetation of the farm Groenvlei is described as the Near-Highland sourveld variation of veld type 57 ‘North-Eastern Sandy Highveld’ (Acocks, JPH. 3rd Edition, 1988. Veld Types of South Africa, Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 57, Botanical Research Institute & Department of Agriculture and Water Supply, South Africa).

The dominant grass species is Rooigras/Red Grass Themeda triandra which is acknowledged as a decreaser and a premier pasture grass with a high to very high grazing value (van Oudtshoorn, F. [ed]. 1992. Guide to Grasses of South Africa, Briza Publikasies Cc, Arcadia) although this is primarily palatable and nutritious only in the summer growing season.

Rainfall is in the region of 750-950 mm per annum falling mainly in summer in typical
highveld thunderstorms. Although recorded at higher altitudes in the district, snow is not
regularly recorded on Ben Aloe.

The key natural habitats can be summarised as follows:

i) grassy mountaintop plateau
ii) open rocky mountainside and ridges
iii) protea covered rocky mountainsides
iv) cliff faces and kloof/krantz
iv) Eland’s River
v) mountain streams
vi) vlei/marsh
vii) seasonally inundated grassland
In addition there are three man made habitats
ix) pine and gum plantation
x) dams
xi) garden