544 J. W. BEWS. 



times also grows upright as a tree), Rub us pinnatus, R. 

 rigidus, Clematis bracchiata, several species of Vitis,. 

 Senecio deltoideus, S. macroglossus, species of Ipo-. 

 moea, Dioscorea, and Asparagus, Riocreuxia toru- 

 losa (Asclepiad), 



As will be seen later, many of the species in scrub are also 

 marginal to the bush. They are resistant to grass-fires, and 

 certain of them regularly appear after a bush-fire, not only 

 in the Drakensberg, but also in the Midlands of Natal, e.g. 

 Buddleia salvi^folia and Rubus pinnatus. 



The trees grow usually not more than about 6-15 ft. tall, 

 but their spreading branches interlace, and thus it is difficult 

 or often impossible to make one's way through the scrub. 

 At the same time, a considerable amount of light is able 

 to penetrate and the undergrowth is fairly rich. Underneath 

 the bou.lders and in the damp krantzes and caves (the origin 

 of which has already been described, p. 518) soil gathers and 

 supports an assemblage of shade-loving herbs, and particularly 

 of ferns: Impatiens capensis, Begonia natalensis; 

 numerous species of Strep tocarpus, Acanthaceous 

 herbs, Plectranthus spp., Stenoglottis fimbriata, 

 Agapanthus umbellatus, Doryopteris elongata, D. 

 athamantica, Asplenium lunulatum, A. protensum,. 

 A. monanthes, A. bipinnatum, Adiantum tBthio- 

 picum, A. capillus-veneris, Polypodium vulgare, P. 

 lineure, P. lanceolatum, P. polypodioides, Ceterach 

 cordatum, Mohria caffroruni, Pelltea viridis. 



5. BUSH. 



The climax type of tree vegetation — the Bush — occupies 

 the most favourable situations, where there is (a) maximum 

 deposition of moisture, (b) rapid cold-air drainage and there- 

 fore absence of frosts, (c) shelter from desiccating winds, 

 (d) suitable soil conditions and exposure. The situations 

 which fulfil all these conditions are the south-eastern slopes 

 and shallow depressions with a .sufficient gradient. Bush is 



