THE VEGETATION OF NATAL. 293 



itself a rich one, vet the ashes from the burning- of the 

 timber enriches it for a time. After a few mealie crops have 

 been raised the soil becomes impoverished, and the native 

 moves onto another patch and repeats the performance. This 

 has led to the total destruction of large areas of woodland. 

 Finally, a good deal of bush timber is used by the native as 

 firewood. 



ir. THE PLANT FORMATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS. 



SHORE VEGETATION. 



Practically the whole coast of Natal, with the exception of 

 the river estuaries, is lined by Psainmophilous Bush, 

 which occupies the relatively stable substratum of the fixed 

 sand-dunes. Between this and the sea there is a belt of shift- 

 ing sand, usually less than a hundred yards in width. 



(1) HALOPHILOUS ASSOCIATIONS. 



The more conspicuous of the plant associations found on 

 the unstable belt of sand next the sea are the following : 



1. Sc.evola-Cyperus Association. — Sceevola lobelia is a 

 plant with thick fleshy leaves and long creeping rhizomes. 

 It is frequently associated with a tuberous stoloniferous 

 species of C y p e r u s — C y p e r u s n a t a 1 e n s i s (the leafy form) . 

 These plants grow through the sand, and only the leaf- 

 bearing shoots appear above it. The leaves of Scasvola 

 often stand high up, but again they may be covered by the 

 drifting sand. The Cyperus travels for long distances 

 through the sand, and is of considei-able importance in helping 

 to fix the dune. 



2. Pes-Capk^ Association. — This is the name given by 

 Schimper to the association in which IpomEeapes-caprre 

 (I. biloba) is the dominant plant. It is found usually 

 somewhat higher up and often behind the Sca3vola associa- 



