Combretum and Acacia woodlands are found in patches in some parts of Southern Africa. In South Africa, Combreteaceae woodlands are dominated by Terminalia sericea which is usually found in association with other species. Terminalia sericea typically occurs on deep (>1 m) sandy soils, and may be nearly monodominant following disturbance (Scholes 2004). Shallower or rocky, infertile soils are domi­nated by Combretum apiculatum in semi-arid situations, giving way to Combretum collinum in slightly wetter areas (Scholes 2004).

Semi-arid shrubland vegetation formation covers over 900,000 km2 and com­prises either microphyllous wooded grassland or shrubland in which there is a more-or-less continuous grass layer (Timberlake et al. 2010). Due to low rainfall, drought, low temperatures, exposure to wind or salinity and toxicity or extreme oligotrophy of the soil, operating singly or in various combinations, the trees are sparsely distributed and are around 5-8 m high (White 1983; Timberlake et al. 2010). The characteristic species include various Acacia species (A. erioloba, A. luederitzii, A. fleckii, A. hebeclada, A. mellifera, A. tortilis), Boscia albitrunca, Dichrostachys cinerea and Terminalia sericea (Scholes 2004; Timberlake et al. 2010). Although the characteristic species are mostly Acacias, only one or two of these species may dominate the vegetation formation (Scholes 2004) depending on the availability of moisture. For example, Acacia mellifera and A. erioloba are widespread on the arid fringe; A. karroo in the southeast; A. tortilis and A. nilotica in the northeast, and A. robusta and A. sieberiana in the moister areas (Scholes 2004).