502 J. W. BEWS. 



(2) Low Veld Region. 



(a) Pennisetum nnisetum dominant. 



(b) Phragmites communis dominant. 



(c) Cyperus spp. dominant. 



(d) Vlei grasses dominant. 



(e) Trees and shrubs of the river side, 



8. PLANTATIONS. 



(1) Wattle (Acacia mo His sim a). 



(2) Blue Gums (Eucalyptus globulus). 



(3) Pines (Pinus ins ignis, P. pinaster). 



L THE VELD FORMATION. 



(1) High Veld. 



(a) Anthistiria imberbis is the most important grass 

 in both types of veld (high and low], though its general habit 

 is very different in each. In the high veld it always flowers, 

 and its flowering culms are two or three feet high, so that in 

 autumn the growth of grass on the high veld is much more 

 rank than on the low veld. Its reddish-brown spathes give 

 a characteristic colour to the landscape, and the type is known 

 to the farmers as red veld. The high veld is also sometimes 

 spoken of as sour veld, not from any acidity in the soil, since 

 analyses show that practically all Natal soils sire neutral, but 

 apparently because, when the grass grows rank and tall, the 

 cattle do not care to eat it, and also in contra-distinction to 

 the low veld, which is known as sweet veld. 



The habitat has already been described. The soil is of the 

 loose, well-aerated type, but poor in chemical properties. 

 Where it is fairly uniform and of sufficient depth, Anthi- 

 stiria imberbis alone is dominant. Other grasses and 

 associated plants occur very sparsely mixed with it. As a 

 general rule the purer the Anthistiria association, the more 

 stable the topography. This association covers all the more 

 level ground and gentle slopes in the high veld region. 



