139 



A. adscensionis, A. hurhei, and A. congesta occur. Eragrostis 

 chalcantha, E-. curvula, E. clilorovielas, E. caesia, E. 

 viicraniha, E. plana, E. hrizoides, E. gummiflua represent the 

 other great pioneer genus. 



Since all Tussock Veld is of a primitive type, Aristida 

 or Eragrostis consoeies have not the same importance in 

 establishing it, as they have in the case of Anthistiria Veld. 

 They occur in the climax stages of it, and are sometimes 

 dominant over patches, but they are not so characteristic of 

 it, as the species named below. Cynodon dactylon is often 

 a pioneer over bare ground. The following are all definite 

 mountain veld species : Microchloa caffra, M. altera var. 

 nelsoni, Harpechloa capensis, Festuca caprina (bok-baard), 

 F. oostata, F. longipes, F. scabra, Poa binata, Koeleria 

 cristata, Anthoxanthum ecldonii, Avenastrum turgidulum, A. 

 caffrurn,, Agrostis suavis, Sporobolus centrifugus, Triraphis 

 rehmanni (rare), and Stiburus alopecuroides (in the hydfo- 

 sere). On the Tabamhlope mountain, Natal, there occurs the 

 interesting and distinctive rare species Ischaemwm franhsae, 

 which is also a tussock former. 



The most striking feature of this list is the greater repre- 

 sentation of the temperate tribes, which are almost absent 

 from the Veld of lower altitudes. The Aveneae include 

 Avenastniin, Anthoxanthum , Koeleria, the Agrosteae Agrostis 

 and the Festuceae Stiburus, Festuca, Poa, and Brachy podium, 

 all temperate forms. The others belong to the Chlorideae. 



The ordinary Eastern Grassveld species, as already 

 mentioned, are not altogether absent. Gaipin records Anthis- 

 tiria imberhis from an altitude of 9,400 feet on the eastern 

 shoulder of Ben McDhui and Elionurus argenteus, Andro- 

 pogon ceresiaeformis, A. eucomus, A. appendiculatus , A. 

 schirensis, A. ainplectens, A. filif alius, A. distachyus, A. con- 

 tortus, A. nardus var. 'tnarginatus, A. schoenanthus var. 

 versicolor, A. hirtus, A. aiictus, Panicum natalense, P. 

 eoklonii, P- serratum, Digitaria monodactyla, D. tricholae- 

 noides, Axonopus semialatus var. ecldonii, Setaria spp., 

 Pennisetiim. spp., Tricliolaena setifolia, Arundinella ecldonii, 

 Tristachya leucothrix, Diplachne biflora, Chloris virgata, Ch. 

 petraea are all found. 



The dominant species, however, are those named in the 



first list. It is difficult to declare any one or two species as 



being dominant, since all mountain Tussock Veld is of a 



semi-open character. The species grow very much mixed. 



10 



