528 J. w. BEWS. 



zones — a lower and an npper — tlif upper limits of the lower 

 zone to be taken as corresponding- fo the upper limits of bush 

 and scrub, i. e. of tree-growth. The lower zone would include 

 all the lower portion of the rang-e from the Groodoo Pass 

 northwards as well as the upper foothills ; the upper zone 

 would extend roughly from about 7000 ft. to the summit 

 and include the portion of the Di'akensberg from the Mont 

 aux Sources southwards along the borders of Basutoland. 

 However, it was found that on certain of the butti-ess- slopes 

 the tussock veld extended practically to the top, even of the 

 higher portions, so that as far as the most extensive of the 

 plant formations (the veld) is concerned no such zonation is 

 possible. Further, the cliff vegetation at altitudes of about 

 6000 ft. does not differ essentially or ecologically from that 

 of the cliffs at the hig'her altitudes. Mere altitude is always 

 an unsatisfactory basis for classification; for, as explained 

 above, the climatic conditions at a lower altitude may be 

 more rigorous than at a higher, and, as far as edaphic factors 

 are concerned, more stable conditions sometimes exist at 

 higher altitudes than at lower. It appears, therefore, that 

 nothing Avould be gained, except a wrong impression, by 

 attempting to adhere rigidly to any system of zonation. The 

 floristic differences which one notices as one ascends will be 

 brought out sufficiently clearly by defining as accurately as pos- 

 sible the limits reached by the different plant communities. 



The plant formations of the mountain region include the 

 same types, with a few exceptions, as those found in the Mid- 

 lands. Each of those formations, however, are different in 

 their composition, and ecologically, from the Midland types, 

 and may for purposes of comparison be referred to simply 

 as mountain types, though the prefix " mountain " will not be 

 constantly repeated in the following descriptions. The moun- 

 tain or tussock veld gi-ades into the ordinary veld of low^er 

 altitudes and is represented on the higher hills of the Midlands 

 as well as on the slopes and foothills of the Drakensberg. It 

 is the most extensive type in the mountains as it is elsewhere 

 in Natal. The Protea Veld is an interesting mountain type 



