Er. Fuls et al., THE PHYSICAL-ENVIRONMENT AND MAJOR PLANT-COMMUNITIES OF THE HEILBRON-LINDLEY-WARDEN-VILLIERS AREA, NORTHERN ORANGE-FREE-STATE, South African journal of botany, 59(4), 1993, pp. 345-359
An analysis of the physical environment and associated major plant com
munities of the Heilbron-Lindley-Warden-Villiers area (northern Orange
Free State) is presented. Releves were compiled in 263 stratified ran
dom sample plots. Care was taken to avoid severely degraded areas. A T
WINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed
three distinct vegetation types. These vegetation types were subdivid
ed into seven major plant communities. A hierarchical classification,
description and ecological interpretation of the seven major plant com
munities are presented. The easily distinguishable major plant communi
ties should be managed as separate ecological units in order to achiev
e optimal utilization and conservation of the vegetation of this part
of the Grassland Biome.