Phytosociology of the North-eastern Mountain Sourveld

Abstract

The vegetation of the North-eastern mountain sourveld of the Eastern Transvaal Escarpment was classified by means of Braun-Blanquet and TWINSP AN procedures. Stratification was done by using relatively homogeneous units of major attributes such as geology, land form (topography), physiognomy and dominant plant species. The classification of the floristic data resulted in four different major vegetation units, representing the vegetation of the Black Reef Quartzite and associated large rocky outcrops, the dry dolomitic regions, the high altitude hygrophilous vegetation and the relatively low altitude vegetation regions. All identified plant communities were ecologically interpreted and described. The endemic flowering plants of the north-eastern Transvaal Escarpment was analyzed with respect to substrate and species lists were compiled.