Theron, G.K.2022-05-172022-05-173/8/20211989*https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85442Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1989.The grassland vegetation in the Amersfoort area of the south-eastern Transvaal is classified into a number of syntaxa using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach. The syntaxa are informally arranged into a hierarchical system of Vegetation Types (4), Units (5), Sub-Units (2) and Variants (29). The Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DECORANA) ordination supports the results of the classification to the level of the Vegetation Sub-Unit, but does not differentiate between the habitats of the syntaxa. Statistical analysis reveals statistically significant differences in the most commonly occurring habitat features of comparable syntaxa. There has been a marked deterioration in the species composition of the vegetation since Acocks' (1953) survey, and there is a gradient of increasing vegetation degradation operative within the syntaxa. The present vegetation in the Amersfoort area has developed in response to a history of veld mismanagement.en© 2020 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDAphytosociologicalSouth-easternTransvaalHighveld grasslandsThesis