Knersvlakte
The Knersvlakte is a region of a hilly terrain covered with quartz gravel in Namaqualand in the north-west corner of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The name is thought to be derived from the gnashing of teeth caused by the hard quartz stones as they are traveled over in wagon. The Knersvlakte is succulent karoo and dominated by leaf succulents belonging to the Mesembryanthemaceae and Crassulaceae, with a variety of shrubs spread amongst them. The climate of the region is semi-arid with long dry summers, and rainfall occurring in the winter months.
The white quartz gravel reflects the sunlight, and is not as hot as the darker rocks and soil found in adjacent areas. Because the area is isolated from other areas with abundant quartz stones, there is a high level of endemism in the plants that occur in the Knersvlakte. Many of these plants are small and compact, which is presumably an adaptation to absorb heat as rain occurs in a short and cool winter period.
External links
- Knersvlakte Section in the Conservatory at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
- Factsheet from SKEP