Open AccessThe phytosociology and syntaxonomy of relatively low-altitude areas in the North-eastern Mountain Sourveld, in the eastern Transvaal escarpment region
Author(s) -
Wayne Matthews,
G.J. Bredenkamp,
N. van Rooyen
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
koedoe
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2071-0771
pISSN - 0075-6458
DOI - 10.4102/koedoe.v37i2.338
Subject(s) - phytosociology , escarpment , altitude (triangle) , geography , vegetation (pathology) , forestry , physical geography , plant community , ecology , archaeology , ecological succession , biology , medicine , geometry , mathematics , pathology
An analysis of the vegetation of the relatively low altitude regions of the North-eastern Mountain Sourveld of the eastern Transvaal escarpment is presented. Releves were compiled in 53 stratified random sample plots. ATWINSPAN-classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed seven plant communities. In the hierarchical classification one class, one alliance, four associations, four subassociations and two valiants are recognised. Formal syntaxonomic descriptions of the syntaxa are given. All communities are related to specific environmental conditions, of which geology, aspect, altitude and rockiness of the soil surface are the most important