Jp. Coetzee et al., PLANT-COMMUNITIES OF THE SUBHUMID COOL TEMPERATE MOUNTAIN BUSHVELD OFTHE PRETORIA-WITBANK-HEIDELBERG AREA, SOUTH-AFRICA, South African journal of botany, 61(3), 1995, pp. 114-122
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.