84 



Sporobolus. (See Fig. 2 F.) This is another important 

 genus of pioneer species like Aristida and Eragrostis. There 

 is one group of small xerophytic forms, which are particularly 

 characteristic of stony plains and hillsides in the drier regions. 

 Sporobolus densissimus, S. panicoides, S. nebulosus, S. rangei, 

 S, robustus, S. virginicus occur in the Western region. In 

 the Sand Veld region there are S. tenellus and S. acinifolius. 

 In the Karroo and the transitional belt to grassland S. ioclados, 

 S. ludwigii, S. albicans, S. discosporus are the distinctive 

 species. S. festicus var. stuppeus is a tussock forming species 

 in open or mountain Veld of Natal and the Transvaal. It 

 forms a dense and characteristic stool of old leaf bases which 

 break up into fibres. S. centrifugus is a mountain Tussock 

 Veld species, though it is recorded also for the coast belt of 

 Xatal. S. fimbriaUis is important in open transitional Veld 

 chiefly, but it occurs in the Veld of Natal and the Transvaal. 

 S. rehmanni is a tropical species of the Transvaal and Natal 

 coast belt, while S. subtilis occurs in the latter habitat and 

 also in Madagascar. 



*T*d* 



Fig-. 19. — Transverse Section of a portion of a leaf of Sporoholus indicus 



(x about 60). 



The most widely distributed, and also the most important 

 ecologically, is *S'. indicus (umSingizan). It is fairly common 

 among the Macchia of the South West, and is very common 

 as a pioneer species in eastern Grassveld. In Natal the more 

 robust variety la.ru s covers wide areas of primitive Veld, often 

 associated with Eragrostis plana (umTshiki). This Sporobolus- 

 Eragrostis associes becomes semi-stable often as the result of 

 continuous grass burning. umSingizan is also common along 

 roadsides and railways. Its leaf is shown in transverse section 

 in Fig. 19. The ridges are not prominent, but there is a 

 distinct midrib. The sclerenchyma is not excessive, and the 

 bundles are not girdered. The motor cells are functional, and 

 the leaf rolls up in dry weather. Sporobolus indicus is eaten 



