PLANT-COMMUNITIES OF THE SUBHUMID COOL TEMPERATE MOUNTAIN BUSHVELD OFTHE PRETORIA-WITBANK-HEIDELBERG AREA, SOUTH-AFRICA

An analysis of the plant communities of the Sub-humid Cool Temperate M ountain Bushveld of the Pretoria-Witbank-Heidelberg area within the Gr assland Biome of South Africa is presented. Releves were compiled in 3 3 stratified random sample plots, A default TWINSPAN classification ba sed on total floristic composition, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedur es, revealed five plant communities and seven sub-communities, which a ll can be regarded as distinct ecological systems. Each of these plant communities may be regarded as a unique natural entity, each with its own species composition, specific environmental conditions and inhere nt forage production potential. The identification, hierarchical class ification, description and ecological interpretation of these plant co mmunities are not only essential for a comprehensive syntaxonomy of So uth African grassland vegetation, but may also serve as a basis for st rategic planning of conservation areas, the preservation of biotic div ersity and general veld management planning.