THE PLANT ECOLOGY OF DEAKENSBERG RANGE. 559 



after rain-sfcorms they become small torrents. Springs 

 emei'ge at different altitudes, and in places small alpine bogs 

 are formed. The algte, mosses, and hepatics already 

 described under the heading of Rock Flushes are character- 

 istic and abundant. Some of the vlei plants of the lower 

 mountain zone occur sporadically at high altitudes and must 

 also be included as hydrophilous chomophytes. The hydro- 

 phile type of chomophyte, therefore, forms an interesting 

 transition to the vlei formation of lower altitudes. 



The following are representative examples of this type : 



Flowering Plants. — Ranunculus baurii, R. 

 cooperi, Helichrysum sp., Eumorphia sericea, 

 Sebsea thomasii, Streptocarpus sp., Xyris sp., Bul- 

 bostylis sp., together with many included in the list of vlei 

 plants. 



Pteridophy ta. — Hy menophyllum tunbridgense, 

 Cystopteris fragilis,^ Dryopteris bergiana, Blech- 

 num attenuata. 



Bryophyta. — Anomobryum filiforme Dicks., Bryum 

 afro-turbinatum C. M., Fissidens taxifolius Hedw., 

 Riccia fluitans L., Fossombrouia leucoxantha L. & 

 G., Fimbriaria marginata Nees., Anthoceros puuc- 

 tatus L., A. natalensis 8im MS8., Lejeunea flava, 

 Encalypta sp., Aneura fastigiata L. 



10. FYNBOSCH OR MAQUIS FORMATION. 



On part of the main escarpment we get slopes which are 

 too steep for veld^ though the cliffs are not quite sheer. A 

 loose soil accumulates with boulders and stones interspersed, 

 and the underlying rock is frequently exposed. Rocks often 

 become loosened and roll down into the nearest ravine. Some 

 of the ravines are small and narrow ; others form great gorges 



' W. G. Smith includes Cystopteris fragilis under shade chomo- 

 phytes, which is true for Britain with its wetter climate. In Natal it 

 prefei's moister localities, and is here included, therefore, under hydro- 

 philous chomophytes. 



VOL. 3, PART 3. 37 



