137 



These include lschaemum fasciculatum var. arcuatum, 

 Andropogon rufus, Digitaria diversinervis, Panicum brizan- 

 thum, P. filiculme, P. hymeniochilum, P. aequinerve, P. 

 chusqueoides, P. perlaxum, P. zizanioides, P. meyerianum, 

 and in denser shade P. laticomum, Oplismenus africanus, 

 Potamophila prehensilis, all tropical forms. A number of 

 other Coast Veld species of wider distribution are mixed. 

 Some of the Cyperaceae are often dominant, e.g., Cyperus 

 albostriatus, C. esculentus, Mariscus dregeanus. 



The Xerosere. The earlier stages of this, on the coast 

 belt, do not differ in any essential points from the Veld of 

 higher altitudes. The initial stages are again dominated by 

 Aristida, Eragrostis, and Sporobolus. E. curvula is abundant, 

 Aristida not quite so common. Sporobolus subtilis is not 

 recorded elsewhere for South Africa, but occurs in Mada- 

 gascar. Sporobolus indicus is again common. 



In the subsequent stages, patches of typical Anthistiria- 

 Andropogon Veld occur, usually with A. hirtus dominant. 

 Pollinia villosa is rather frequent. Pogonarthria falcata 

 shows connections with the Transvaal, as also Andropogon 

 hirti floras and Perotis lati folia. After a careful examination 

 of much of the Coast Veld of Natal, I have no hesitation in 

 saying that none of it is stable, nor does it represent more 

 than a transitional phase to Bush, towards which it is pro- 

 gressing very rapidly, wherever it is left alone. The Tam- 

 bookie grasses are often pioneers of Bush, but the various 

 fropical Panicums named above as well as others (P. brizan- 

 thuin, P. filiculme, P. hymeniochilum, P. aequinerve, P. 

 perlaxum, P. chusqueoides, P. deustum, P. zizanioides, P. 

 maximum, P. laevi folium , P. meyerianum, P. proliferum, P. 

 crus-pavonis var. rostratum, P. curvatum) and lschaemum 

 fasciculatum var. arcuatum, Digitaria diversinervis, Setaria 

 sulcata, C. verticillata make the transitional belt on the coast 

 very distinctive. 



Among the flowering plants there are also many distinc- 

 tive species, which act as pioneers. Vangueria infausta is 

 one of the most important pioneer trees on the coast. Cttssonia 

 umbellifera is also abundant. In the final stages Albizzia 

 fastigiata, Protorhus longifolia are often dominant, but the 

 semi-tropical nature of the bush is most strikingly shown by 

 the presence of palms (Hyphaene crinita, Phoenix reclinatd), 

 and the Wild Banana Strelitzia augusta. 



