444 . J. w. BEWS. 



occurring very far from the sea, in fact the type in most 

 places might be described as a Barringtonia-Hibiscus 

 associes. 



10. Hygeophilous Bush. 

 [umDoni or TVaterboom associes, PI. XXV, fig. 2.) 



The earliest stages of the succession along the stream 

 banks, vleis, and in or near water generally, have already 

 been dealt with. Forest species are often very early arrivals. 

 Their fruits are usually eaten by birds, Avhich congregate in 

 such moist situations, thus bringing the seeds where they can 

 most easily germinate. These species soon grow tall enough 

 to oust the earlier reeds and sedges, and a very distinct type 

 of bush or forest becomes established. The Waterboom or 

 umDoni, Eugenia cor data, is often dominant and always 

 characteristic. It is associated with other species of about 

 equal importance^ any one of which may be dominant^ 

 Voacanga dregei, Bauwolfia natalensis, Ficus 

 capensis, F. natalensis, Macaranga capensis. Other 

 tree or shrub species are not quite so important. Trema 

 bracteolata, Ma3sa lanceolata, Combretum kraussii, 

 C. salicif olium, Pittosporum viridiflorum, Celtis 

 kraussiana (28), Myrica conifera, Myrsine melano- 

 plileos, Acacia spp., Erythrina caffra, Bhamnus 

 zeyheri, Bridelia micrantha, Antidesma venosum^ 

 Croton sylvaticus, Sapium mannianum, Albizzia 

 fastigiata, Clerodendron glabrum, Cussonia umbel- 

 lifera, Protorhus longifolia, Cassipourea verticil- 

 lata. Many of these species grow very tall, and when other 

 coast forest is destroyed by clearing operations, being in 

 somewhat inaccessible positions or not being of use for timber 

 they are often left standing. Isolated patches of apparently 

 primeval forest along the stream banks at the present time 

 really represent this eai'ly stage of forest development and 

 are not to be taken as typical of coast forest as a wdiole. 



Such hygrophilous bush occurs all over the coast belt. 



