107 



capense, a dwarf grass, forms consoeies in the dry Veld around 

 Sterkstroom and elsewhere. Crossotropis grandiglumis is 

 very common, but usually only forms small colonies with other 

 species. Tricholaena setifolia is fairly common. Tragus 

 Jcoeleri aides and T. race7nosus are both characteristic of stony 

 hillsides in the region. The genus Enneapogon is peculiarly 

 characteristic of the region. The species E. scaber and E. 

 mollis are most widespread, E. scoparius and E. brachy- 

 stachyus more Jocal. Enneapogon-Eragrostis associes. cover 

 gieat areas, as already mentioned, in the Southern Free State, 

 all the Veld being of a primitive type. 



Little need be said regarding Anthistiria-Andropogon 

 Veld in the transitional belt, for it is essentially the same as 

 Eastern lirassveld, which will be described more fully later. 



Haas-gias Veld. This is another "substituted" type 

 which is of peculiar interest for many different reasons. For 

 many miles around Molteno, Anthistiria Yeld has practically 

 entirely disappeared, and the Haas-gras (Danthonia purpurea) 

 has become completely dominant. It is a low-growing species, 

 scarcely more than an inch or two high (see Fig. 9). The 

 margins of its leaves are long ciliated, and this gives it the 

 appearance of being extremely xerophytic. As a matter of 

 fact, it is drought resisting, and also frost resisting, and it 

 gives good grazing, when other grasses are withered. Its 

 leaves are small but somewhat succulent, and packed full of 

 starch to an extent which is never reached by the larger 

 leaved sub-tropical eastern types (see Fig. 10). Sheep are 

 fond of it, and it is generally looked upon as a good grass. 

 For further details see under Danthonia in Part III. 



The plant succession in the Haas-gras Yeld is as follows: 

 Cynodon incompletus is everywhere, so far as I have been 

 able to explore the area, the chief pioneer. Eragrostis-Aris- 

 tida associes or separate Aristida and Eragrostis consoeies 

 usually follow, or sometimes these form the initial stages 

 themselves. The climax consists of a Danthonia consociation, 

 with societies of Microchloa caffra, Tctracline dregei, 

 Eragrostis micrantha, E. chalcantha, Aristida vestita, and 

 occasionally Anthistiria imberbis. I have only been able to 

 visit the Molteno district in autumn, and there are probably 

 other vernal aspect societies. The type would certainly repay 

 further investigation. 



The historical evidence seems to prove that the Danthonia 

 has replaced Anthistiria Veld within recent times, but at 

 S 



