117 



laxer panicles and longer spathes, but there are certainly- 

 many intermediate varieties, and the different extremes may 

 be found growing together. Though I have given a good deal 

 of attention to the species, at present I prefer not to record 

 any observations on the distribution of the separate varieties. 

 The peculiar glaucous tint in the leaves of the Low Veld 

 variety has already been referred to. Anthistiria is the chief 

 pasture grass in South Africa, and it makes a good hay. Its 

 innovation buds are intravaginal, and it is consequently easily 

 burnt out. Its dead leaves tend to break up into fibres which 

 form a spongy mat over the surface of the soil, thereby retain- 

 ing water, and lessening soil erosion. As already mentioned, 

 it is not so deep rooted as the species which precede it. 



Anthistiria is associated regionally with numerous other- 

 species, some of which form consociations, and a much larger 

 number societies, while many remain somewhat sparsely mixed 

 with the dominant species. Anthistiria- Andropogon associa- 

 tions are the commonest, in fact the whole formation is prac- 

 tically made up of them. Androfogon hirtus occurs abun- 

 dantly in the High Veld, and forms large consociations chiefly 

 in the Low Veld. Andropogon schoenanthus var. versicolor 

 is sometimes associated with it, but is not quite so important. 

 Andropogon nardus var. marginatus forms societies (more- 

 rarely consociations) in the High Veld and in the Low Veld. 

 Andropogon ceresiaeformis is practically confined 'to the High 

 Veld, sometimes forming pure consociations, but more often 

 occurring as a sub-dominant species in Anthistiria Veld. The 

 following species of And,ropogon are more sparsely scattered : 

 A. schirengis var. angustifoliiis, A. amplectens, A. eucovius, 

 A. hirtiflorus , A. filifoliiis, A. distachyus, A. pertusus, A. 

 intermedins var. pitnctatus. Andropogon contortus is an 

 early flowering species -which forms vernal aspect societies. 

 All the other Andropogon species (which are included in the 

 sub-genus Cymhopogon) belong to a further stag^ in the- 

 development being transitional to Forest or else they belong 

 to the hydrosere, since iu both cases they require moister 

 conditions than are found in typical Veld. 



Elionurus argenteus is a widely distributed species which 

 forms consociations in much of the Eastern Grassveld. In 

 Natal these are widely scattered, but not individually exten- 

 sive. In the Transvaal from Wonderboom Poort to the Croco- 

 dile River they become one of the dominant types. Tracliy- 

 pogon polymorphus var. capensis is very common, but grows 

 in isolated tufts or at most forms small clans. Urelytrum 



