Hc. Eckhardt et al., SPECIES RICHNESS AND PLANT-COMMUNITIES OF THE HELICHRYSUM-RUGULOSUM HYPARRHENIA-HIRTA LOW-ALTITUDE GRASSLAND OF NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL, South African journal of botany, 62(6), 1996, pp. 296-305
The condition of the grasslands of northern KwaZulu-Natal is a source
of great concern especially if seen against the background of a lack o
f knowledge of the ecology of these grasslands. The aim of this study
was therefore to produce a classification and description of the plant
communities of the Helichrysum rugulosum-Hyparrhenia hirta Low-altitu
de grassland, a major vegetation type of the area. The TWINSPAN classi
fication and subsequent refinement there-of by Braun-Blanquet procedur
es resulted in the identification of 14 plant communities (vegetation
units). The relationship of these communities to environmental factors
was then determined by the application of the ordination algorithm DE
CORANA. Distribution of the synreleves was explained in terms of soil
characteristics and degradation, The phytosociological data were furth
er analyzed to determine the species richness of each community. This
parameter, together with species rarity and naturalness of communities
, were collectively considered in an attempt to identify potential con
servation sites. According to these criteria, one specific community w
as identified to be of conservational importance.