Table 2 Plant species abundance (%) of the soil seed bank over time in bush-cleared and uncleared microsites at Kgomokgomo from April 2016 to August 2017

Achyranthes aspera (L.) Griseb.

Amaranthaceae

Forb

Invader

P

–

–

–

1.3

0.4

–

1.4

1.5

–

–

–

Aloe greatheadii var davyana (Schönl.)

Asphodelaceae

Succulent

Increaser II

E

–

0.5

3.3

2.7

–

–

–

6.2

4.4

–

–

Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl.) R. W. Haines.

Cyperaceae

Sedge

Increaser II

A

39.2

13.4

25.7

15.4

7.9

6.6

9.8

46.2

9.2

9.7

2.7.

Chochorous longipedunculatus (Burch.)

Malvaceae

Forb

Increaser II

P

–

4.0

–

2.0

6.2

0.4

6.3

–

5.7

38.7

0.7

Crotalaria lotoides (Benth.)

Fabaceae

legume

Increaser II

A

–

0.5

–

0.7

0.4

–

–

–

–

1.6

0.7

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Poaceae

Grass

Increaser II

A

2.5

1.5

–

0.7

–

–

0.7

–

0.9

–

–

Digitaria eriantha (Stent.) Steud.

Poaceae

Grass

Decreaser

P

1.6

1.0

–

0.7

4.5

3.3

–

–

–

1.6

–

Eragrostis pseudosclerantha (Chiov.)

Poaceae

Grass

Increaser II

P

–

2.5

2.0

–

2.9

7.0

1.4

–

6.1

–

–

Eragrostis spp.

Poaceae

Grass

Increaser II

P

13.3

10.0

10.5

11.4

1.2

5.8

11.2

7.7

11.8

–

3.4

Evolvulus alsinoides L.

Colvolvulaceae

Forb

Increaser II

A

–

–

3.9

2.0

0.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

Hibiscus engleri (K. Schum.)

Malvaceae

forb

Invader

A

–

–

–

–

2.5

0.8

–

–

–

8.1

Ipomoa sinensis (Desr.) Choisy.

Convolvulaceae

Forb

Invader

A

–

1.5

0.7

0.7

2.1

2.9

–

–

0.9

1.6

0.7

Justicia flava (Vahl.) Vahl.

Acanthaceae

Forb

Increaser II

P

–

–

0.7

0.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Kohautia virgata (Willd.) Bremek

Rubiaceae

Forb

Invader

A

–

–

0.7

2.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Kyphorcarpa angustifolia (Moq.) Lopr.

Amaranthaceae

Forb

Invader

A

–

–

7.2

1.3

0.4

0.8

–

1.5

–

1.6

–

Limeum viscosum (Fenzl.) A. Gay.

Molluginaceae

Forb

Increaser II

A

1.6

25.4

21.1

8.1

0.4

1.2

5.6

4.6

33.2

4.8

2.0

Panicum maximum (Jacq.)

Poaceae

Grass

Decreaser

P

–

1.0

3.3

–

15.7

11.0

1.4

–

3.1

11.3

12.9

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L.

Phylanthaceae

Forb

Invader

P

–

–

–

0.7

–

–

2.8

1.5

–

3.2

–

Portulaca hereroensis (Schinz.)

Portulacaceae

Succulent

Invader

A

3.3

2.0

–

2.7

–

–

1.4

–

4.4

–

–

Portulaca pilosa (N. E. Br.)

Portulacaceae

Succulent

Invader

A

7.5

24.4

17.1

30.2

8.7

3.7

42.0

24.6

17.9

1.6

4.1

Portulaca quadrifida L.

Portulacaceae

Succulent

Invader

A

–

10.0

3.3

16.1

27.3

24.0

6.3

1.5

1.3

12.9

49.0

Schkuhria pinnata (L.) Kuntze ex Thell.

Asteraceae

Forb

Invader

A

–

–

0.7

–

0.8

–

0.7

–

0.9

–

–

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill.

Asteraceae

Forb

Invader

A

22.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Tragus berteronianus (Schult.)

Poaceae

Grass

Increaser II

A

0.8

1.0

0.7

–

12.4

13.0

3.5

0.4

1.6

10.9

Tephrosia purperea (L.) Pers.

Fabaceae

Legume

Increaser II

A

–

0.5

–

–

–

–

2.8

3.1

–

1.6

1.4

Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy.

Poaceae

Grass

Increaser II

A

–

–

–

–

5.0

17.8

2.8

–

–

–

11.6

Total abundance of herbaceous perennials (%)

13.3

42.7

15.8

14.4

26

24.8

24.5

10.5

26.7

53.2

17

Total abundance of herbaceous annuals (%)

86.7

56.9

84.2

82.9

74

75.2

75.7

83.3

68.9

46.8

83

Species richness (number of species)

9

16

15

18

18

14

16

10

14

14

12