85 



by stock especially in Spring, and is cut for hay, but it is not 

 considered a very good grass. The Mountain Veld species, 

 S. centrifugus , is better in this respect, but none of the species, 

 are of much value. 



The species Sporoholus pungens is in a class by itself,, 

 being the most widely distributed strand plant in South 

 Africa. It extends right round the coast from West to East, 

 and often forms very definite consocies within reach of the 

 salt water. It also occurs in salt "Vleis near the coast. It. 

 varies a good deal in form, but it may be easily recognized, 

 even when not flowering, by the peculiar many noded culms, 

 which are sheathed all along and have the alternate internodes. 

 very short so that the subulate-involute pungent leaves appear 

 sub-opposite. It has a creeping rhizome and is stoloniferous.. 

 It is a common literal species in most warm countries. 



Steiiotaphrum glabrum is a prostrate creeping grass,, 

 which roots at the nodes, and prefers a sandy soil. It is. 

 dominant in the hillside flushes very often in the Cape region, 

 and it also forms very definite consocies on moist sandy flats- 

 along the coast of Natal. It is used as a lawn grass (c.f. 

 Dactyloctenium aegyptiacum). The leaves in cross section show 

 the chlorophyll more or less surrounding the very numerous 

 small bundles, and a large amount of water storage tissue both 

 above and belov/, which is unusual. There is very little- 

 sclerenchj^ma. 



Stibiirus alopecuroides is found in moist places or forms, 

 consocies in the hydrosere of Eastern Mountain Veld. 



Stipa. S. tortilis is an annual common in the South 

 Western region and Namaqualand, and S. dregeana is a shade- 

 loving Bush grass, widely distributed not only in the Eastern 

 Forests, but also in the stream bank Bush of the Karroo and 

 drier regions. 



Tetrachne dregei. A Mountain Veld species of the Storm- 

 berg. It is sub-dominant in places or forms societies in the- 

 Haas gras Veld of the Molteno district. (See ujidev Danthonia.y 

 It is a xerophytic form with rigid convolute leaves and low 

 tufted habit. 



Trachypogon polymorphiis var. capensis is common in 

 climax Eastern Gra.ssveld, where it forms autumnal aspect 

 societies. It resembles the Andropogon species with which it 

 mixes. Its leaves are long, narrow, and more or less rigid.. 

 The type is found in Tropical and Sub-Tropical America. 



