The floristics of Sand Forest in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

We use multivariate analyses (ordination and classification) to assess both the floristic uniqueness of the woody vegetation of Sand Forest in relatio n to a range of other forest types in the region, and the range of variatio n within Sand Forest. Two broad Sand Forest subtypes and related Ecotonal F orests are described and grouped under the term Tropical Dry Forest, distin ct from all evergreen forests in South Africa. Sand Forest, a dry semi-deci duous type in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal is defined by the presence of the canopy dominant Cleistanthus schlechteri as well as Hymenocardia ulmoides, Psydrax fragrantissima, Croton pseudopulchellus and Drypetes arguta. Sand F orests form a cohesive group in both DCA and TWINSPAN analyses, with simila r composition of canopy dominants at sampled sites. This implies that ecolo gical functioning is similar across the geographical range in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal. However, turnover of subdominant species between recognisabl e Sand Forest types emphasizes the need to conserve the full range of extan t forests.