115 



There are many other species, of Eragrostis, some of them 

 ruderal, some belonging to the hydrosere, and some to the 

 climax stages of Veld. 



Sporobolus indicus (umSingisan) is the chief species of 

 this genus; dominant over large areas of primitive veld; often 

 mixed with E. plana, sometimes with Andropogon hirtus. 

 S. festivus var. stuppcus is an interesting tussock-forming 

 pioneer. S. fimbriatus is more Western and S. rehmanni 

 more tropical (Natal coast belt). 



In addition to the various species of Aristida, Eragrostis 

 and Sporobolus, there are a number of others, which belong 

 to the initial stages of the sere. The two Cynodons or Kweek 

 grasses, C. incompletus and C. dactylon, with several varie- 

 ties, both colonize bare surface, but on the whole are more 

 important in sub-seres, occurring along roadways or in cattle 

 kraals where the Veld has been manured, or on Termites' 

 nests. Crossotropis grandiglumis, Tragus racemosus, Tricho- 

 laena setifolia, Diplachne biflora, Clitoris petraea are all 

 characteristic of the open Yeid of rocky hillsides. 



Usually in the primitive stages, there is a greater or less 

 admixture of the species dealt with below, which are more 

 characteristic of the climax stages. Andropogon hirtus, 

 though it is dominant over much stable Veld, also acts as a 

 jnoneer. A. schocnanthus var. versicolor is similar, and there 

 are many others. In order to avoid confusion, such mixed 

 types are not dealt with at length. AVherever the various 

 species of Aristida, Eragrostis or Sporobolus mentioned above 

 are found to be dominant, it may be taken for granted that 

 the Veld is at a relatively primitive stage of development, 

 and, for farmers, the question of how it should be treated is 

 the one which is of greatest interest. It has already been 

 pointed out that the grasses are deep rooted, xerophytic, hard, 

 and wiry, and farmers are usually very positive that they 

 must burn to get young shoots, or otherwise cattle will not 

 eat the grasses. This is true, but it should be clearly recog- 

 nised that the burning has two further effects, namely, it 

 prevents the succession from going any further, and causes 

 the Veld to remain of a primitive type, and, secondly, it 

 increases soil erosion by laying bare the surface, at the very 

 time when the heaviest rains fall. Of course, it is not to be 

 •denied that some of the pioneer grasses, provided the cattle 

 can be induced to eat them, are not without value, in fact, 

 some of them are quite good (c-g-, several species of 



