THE PLANT ECOLOGY OF DRAKENSBRRd RANGE. 533 



(1) The Veld Geasses. 



The following ai'e the characteristic Alpine species found 

 in the veld of the Drakensberg : Harpechloa capensis^ 

 Microchloa caffra, M. altera var. nelsoni, Tristachya 

 lencothrix, Trachypogon polymorph us, Axonopus 

 semialatns, Eragrostis chalcantha, E. brizoides, 

 E. curvula, Andropogon appendiculatns, A. schoe- 

 n an thus var. versicolor, A, schirensis var. angusti- 

 folia,Trichopterix simplex, Koeleriacristata, Br achy- 

 podium flexum, Aristida angustata, Trichopterix 

 f 1 a V i d a . 



These are all much more abundant at the higher altitudes, 

 and they all show the featui'es in their growth-forms, described 

 above as characteristic. In addition to these, many other 

 species occur, of wliich the following is a fairly complete list : 



Elionurus argenteus, Andropogon ceresitef ormis, 

 A. filit'olius, A. plurinodis, A. hirtus, A. auctns, 

 A . c y m b a r i u s , A n t h i s t i r i a i m b e r b i s (T h e m e d a f o i- s - 

 kalii), Digitaria monodactyla, D. diagonalis, D. 

 tricholasnoides, Panicum serratum, P. isachne, P, 

 n at ale use, P. ecklonii, Setaria imberbis, Pennisetum 

 sphacelatu tn, Tricholaena setifolia, T. rosea, Aven- 

 a strum turgidulum, A. caf frum, Pentaschistes natn 1- 

 ensis, Agrostis lachnantha, A. eriantha, Aristida 

 junciformis. A, bipartitii, A. barbicollis, Ferotis 

 latifolia, Stipa dregeana, Eragrostis ctesia, E. 

 chloromelas, E. nebulosa, E. super ba, Chloris 

 V i r g a t a , E h r h a r t a e r e c t a , E . n a t a 1 e n s i s , P h a 1 a r i s 

 arundinacea, P. minor, Festuca scabra, F. costata, 

 Bromu.s leptocladus, B. natalensis. 



The plant succession wliich culminates in the veld forma- 

 tion may be observed on the buttress-slopes. The talus type 

 of plant formation, Avhich, though not extensive, occurs on 

 some of the steeper and less stable slopes, changes gradually 

 by the invasion of grasses into tussock veld. The fellfield 

 type referred to later is also transitional, and there are many 



