Zygophyllum lichtensteinianum

Zygophyllum lichtensteinianum is a shrub that grows to 80 cm in height. Due to popularity with browsers its upper growth is often trimmed down by stock and game. Leaves, flowers, upper stems and all are removed for the plant to look ravaged as here.

In well-managed veld rest periods without livestock, aligned with available rain to take effect, soon brings recovery. In over-grazed places recovery may take long, especially when the species mix has been harmed, the ground bare or the trampled top soil washed away. Some such parts may never recover.

The distribution of Z. lichtensteinianum, mainly in the Northern Cape, ranges from the mountains near Sutherland, east of the Tankwa Karoo to Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape and southwards into the Little Karoo.

The plant may be abundant in its habitat of semi-arid veld on lower slopes in loam or clay soil. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).