THE FLAN'l' ECOLOGY OF URAKENiSBElK; RANGE. 547 



Where streams, as tliey usually do, flow through the bush, the 

 evergreen growth is denser near them, while the deciduous 

 type favours the ridges in the bush. It must not be supposed 

 that the composition given above applies to each separate 

 patch of bush on the Drakensberg. It is meant to represent 

 a composite type, with the species named in the order of their 

 importance. 



'J^he actual and relative abundance of the different species 

 varies at different places, and in some bushes certain 

 important species may not be represented. The ecological 

 nature varies in the same Avay. The Yellow-woods are most 

 constant and most frequently dominant. Being an evergreen 

 type, the canopy remains a close one and there is little 

 undergrowth. 



In bushes where the deciduous types become dominant, 

 the canopy is more open, and the undergrowth, including- 

 grasses, more abundant. Such bushes, therefore, are similar 

 to the upper poi'tion and higher ridges of the larger bush 

 areas. The following series of examples gives a fairly 

 complete picture of the actual distribution of the Drakens- 

 berg forests : 



(1) Overwood Bush, Polela, 4000-5000 ft. (1218-1524 m.). 

 Podocarpus thunbergii, Podocarpus elongata, 



Celtis kraussiana, Ptferoxylon utile, Xanthoxylon 

 capense, Kiggelaria dregeana, Pygeum af rican ii in , 

 Calodendron capense, with Oudehout and Cliffortia 

 around the margins. 



(2) From Tugela Falls to (Jlivier's Hoek Pass, several 

 scattered patches of bush, cir. 5000 ft. (1524 m.). 



Olinia cymosa, Toddalia lanceolata, Royena 

 liicida, Myrsine melanophleos, Ilex capensis, 

 EljBodendron sp. (um Nai), Yellow-wood (dwarfed), 

 Odina caffra, Bersama abyssinica, Cryptocarya 

 acuminata, Scolopia mundtii, Euclea sp., Schmid- 

 elia sp., Grewia sp., Carissa arduina, Trimeria 



' In the other forests of the Polela district the Falcate Yellow- wood 

 {Podocdrpus falcata) is dominant. 



