The vegetation of old-fields in Transkei

The aim of this paper is to identify, classify and describe plant communiti es on abandoned, formerly cultivated, old fields in the former Transkei (Ea stern Cape Province) and to derive hypothetical succession pathways. Forty two releves, made in representative areas with abundant old-field lots, wer e classified and ordinated using standard methods of numerical vegetation d ata analysis, Three new associations were recognised, namely the Richardio brasiliensis-Eragrostietum planae, the Trichoneuro grandiglumis-Aristidetum congestae and the Tageto minutae-Cynodontetum dactyli. Within the Tageto m inutae-Cynodontetum dactyli, two new sub-associations were recognised, name ly cyperetosum esculenti and typicum. The most important coenocline spannin g the young Tageto minutae-Cynodontelum dactyli and the old Richardio brasi liensis-Eragrostietum planae, correlated with the age of old-fields. We pos tulate that this coenocline might represent the main succession trend withi n the mesic old fields in Transkei. The Trichoneuro grandiglumis-Aristidetu m congestae characteristic of dry sandy soils does not participate in this cline.