500 J. W. BEWS. 



In other formations/ however^ the distinction breaks down. 

 In the case of the vleis there is no marked division into high 

 veld type and low veld type. The An drop o go n associa- 

 tions, which are characteristic of the broken ground, occur in 

 both regions, as well as being typical of the transitional belt 

 between the two. 



Marshes and aquatic formations ceteris i:)arihui< show 

 this feature everywhere, e.g. in Scotland ; so does broken 

 ground, i.e. collections of unstable formations. Mere alti- 

 tude, though it has often been adopted, is always a weak 

 basis of classification, and cannot be rigidly adhered to. A 

 topographical system — plateaux, slopes, upper and lower stream 

 vallej^s, rocky hillsides, etc. — is much better, and this has 

 been largely used. The " plant communities " themselves 

 have been made the primary basis of classification. 



The plant formations and associations will be dealt with in 

 the following order : 



1. THE VELD FORMATION. 



(1) High Veld. 



(a) Anthistiria imberbis dominant. 



(b) Anthistiria imberbis dominant. Andro- 



pogon ceresisef ormis sub-dominant. 



(c) Associated plants of the high veld. 



(d) Andropogon associations (unstable habitat, 



transitional to low veld, bush and vlei). 



(2) Changed High Veld. 



(a) Aristida junciformis dominant. 



(b) Bragrostis curvula dominant. 



(c) Cynodon dactylon dominant. 



(3) Low Veld. 



(a) Anthistiria imberbis dominant. 



(b) Andropogon hirtus dominant. 



(c) Andropogon schoe nan thus dominant. 



(d) Andropogon pert usus dominant. 



(e) Grass associations on stony hillsides. 



(f ) Associated plants of the low veld. 



