580 



J. W. BEWS. 



9. Cliff Vegetation. 



(1) Lithophytes. 



(2) Ohomophj^tes. 



(a) Exposed Chomophytes. 



(b) Sheltered Chomophytes. 



(c) Shade Chomophytes. 



(d) Hydrophile Chomophytes. 



10. Fynbosch oe Maquis Formation. 



1. THE VELD FOEMATION. 



The composition of the veld at high altitudes in Natal 

 differs considerably from that of the Midlands, though most 

 of the mountain species occur at lower altitudes also. The 

 veld, as a whole, occupies the ground where the climatic 

 factors are adverse to the growth of bush. Since the veld 

 formation is the most extensiv'e in Natal, the climate may be 

 described as grassland climate, with local forest climate in 

 places. The amount and disti'ibution of the rainfall has 

 usually been considered the climatic factor of greatest im- 

 portance in determining the relationship between bush and 

 grassland, but there are other factors as well, such as cold 

 air drainage, protection from desiccating winds, which must 

 be taken into consideration. These will be referred to again 

 in the section dealing with bush. 



The geological conditions of the mountain veld are the 

 most stable of those occurring in the Drakensberg ; but, of 

 course, all mountain grassland is of a comparatively unstable 

 type. The veld occupies the rounded foothills and outspurs, the 

 more sloping sides of the valleys, and the flat summit of the 

 lower portions of the main range. It extends up the buttress- 

 slopes to an altitude of over 8000 ft. Its relationship to the 

 underlying rock is illustrated in the sections on pages 515-517. 

 It is the most extensive of the plant formations in the Drakens- 

 berg as well as in the rest of Natal. The soil conditions are 

 exceedingly variable — much more so than at lower altitudes. 



As a combined result of the edaphic and climatic factors. 



