A Field Guide to Magaliesberg Trees

The Magaliesberg is at the meeting point between grassland and savannah, two of the major biomes in South Africa. This gives it a mixture of species from the warmer bushveld to the north and the cooler highveld to the south. Added to this are moist ravines that harbour small relic pockets of afro-alpine forest – signs of an earlier wetter climate. 

This revised and updated second edition describes a total of 131 species of trees, with the addition of 28 shrubs and climbers and eight suffrutices (underground trees). 

The book demystifies the features of these plants. Each tree species includes common language descriptions, complimented by high quality photographs of diagnostic features such as leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, thorns, as well as overall form. Suitability for cultivation and distribution is also discussed. 

By focusing on a limited geographic area, the number of species is limited, making it easy for novices to identify trees without a complex botanical key, and making the guide light enough to slip into your backpack. 

The guide will provide valuable information to hikers, rock climbers, tourists, students, farmers, and anyone interested in understanding more about the natural history of this fascinating mountain range.