S.AfrJ.Bot., 1991, 57(4): 213 - 219 213 The vegetation of the area, Orange I: vlei and bottomland communities

M.S. Kooij,* J.e. Scheepers,t G.J. Bredenkamp* and G.K. Theron* "Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002 Republic of tGrassland Research Centre, Private Bag X05, Lynne East, 0039 Republic of South Africa

Accepted 7 May 1991

Vegetation data from the Kroonstad area were analysed. The entire data set (235 releves) was subdivided into two tabulation subsets by TWINSPAN classification, followed by Braun-Blanquet procedures. One subset, representing the vlei and bottomland vegetation, was classified further by Braun-Blanquet procedures. Eight communities, grouped into four major communities, were identified and described. The results can be inte­ grated with existing phytosociological classifications of the north-western .

'n Ontleding van plantegroeidata vanaf die Kroonstad omgewing word aangebied. Die totale datastel (235 releves) is in twee subdatastelle verdeel, met behulp van 'n TWINSPAN klassifikasie, gevolg deur die Braun-Blanquet prosedure. Een subdatastel wat die plantegroei van die vleie en laaglande verteenwoordig, is verder deur middel van die Braun-Blanquet prosedure geklassifiseer. Agt plantgemeenskappe, wat vier hoofgemeenskappe verteenwoordig, is onderskei en bespreek. Die resultate kan ge'integreer word met be­ staande fitososiologiese klassifikasies van die noord-westelike Oranje-Vrystaat.

Keywords: Braun-Blanquet, classification, Grassland Biome, plant communities.

Introduction land Biome of the north-western Orange Free State (Figure Scheepers (1975) classified the vegetation of the Kroonstad 1). This area comprises approximately 625000 ha. A de­ area by association analysis, a monothetic divisive classifi­ scription of the physical environment of the area was given cation technique (Gauch 1982). Association analysis is by Scheepers (1975), and is therefore not presented here. based on the successive subdivision of vegetation samples into two groups according to the presence or absence of a Methods single species. This process is repeated a number of times in In the semi-detailed ecological survey of the vegetation in order to yield a hierarchy. The dividing species are those the Kroonstad area, 235 releves were compiled using a that have the maximum ability to separate one group or stratified random sampling strategy (Schccpers 1975). This association of species from another association, implying the inventory was intended to provide the basis for rational land maximum sum of chi-squared values with all other species. use, larger scale planning and realization of the agricultural Although Scheepers (1975) derived ecologically interpret­ potential of the Region (Scheepers 1975). A 16-m2 able vegetation types from the results of the association quadrat was used and cover abundance according to the analysis, reconciliation of this classification with the standard Braun-Blanquet scale (Mueller-Dombois & Ellen­ comprehensive phytosociological classification of the north­ berg 1974) of all species present was recorded. In the pres­ western Orange Free State (Kooij, Bredenkamp & Theron ent study, these data were classified by means of a Two­ 1990a - d) is difficult, if not impossible, owing to major Way Indicator Species Analysis (TwINSPAN) (Hill 1979) and differences in the procedures and algorithms applied. Fur­ the resulting classification was refmed by means of the thermore, Coetzee and Werger (1975) showed that a poly­ Braun-Blanquet procedure (Table 1). This procedure was thetic Braun-BIanquet analysis of floristic data results in shown to be effective by Behr and Bredenkamp (1988), ecologically more reliable vegetation classes. Although the Bredenkamp et al. (1989) and Kooij et al. (1990a - d). association analysis algorithm utilizes only presence/absence Taxon names conform to those of Gibbs-Russell et al. data, Scheepers' s original data set comprised total floristic (1985 & 1987). composition with Braun-Blanquet cover abundance values for all identifiable species in the sample plots. In order to Results utilize all existing compatible data in a phytosociological Classification synthesis of the north-western Orange Free State, a reclassi­ On the basis of the major (first-level) division obtained by fication of Scheepers's data by Braun-Blanquet procedures the above procedure, the entire phytosociological table was was necessary. In this report the classification and descrip­ divided into two smaller tables, one containing 42 releves tion of the hygrophilous vlei and bottomland vegetation of (Table 1), representing the vlei and bottomland commun­ the Kroonstad area are presented. ities, and the other containing 193 releves (Kooij, Schee­ pers, Bredenkamp & Theron 1991), representing grassland Study area communities. A comparison of the classification of the total The study area is situated between 27°00' and 2r15'S data set (Scheepers 1975) by association analysis and the latitude and 27°30' and 2r45'E longitude, in the Grass- present procedure is given in Table 2. The allocation of 214 S.-Afr.Tydskr.Plantk.• 199I.57(4) 26·00' 27·00' Nt Legend:

A -land type A e [ill Aim n -land type ncO nd LJill D -land type Dbb2J DcD IIills and ridges na fZ1 Fb~ lbG

Scheepers' s study area 1-.~-'

Figure 1 A map indicating the location of Scheepers's study area (1975) in the north-western Orange Free State (after Land Type Survey Staff 1984).

Table 1 A phyttosociological table of the vlei and borromland communities of the Kroon- stad area described by Scheepers (1975)

Conmunlties 2 3 4 1. 1 1.2 1.3 3.1 3.2 3.1.1

0111 12 001 00 01 01111211 21111112110111102 8668 70 415 55 97 80468065 0011 9678 32 741 19 47 06899980703781590 0604 81891186 04089443626526236 1199 Species group A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Dip/achne rusca 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Senecio burche//ii 124541 1 1 1 1 1 Stachys hyssOpoirtes 1 2 11 1 1 1 + 1 1 Crinum bu/bispermum 1+ 2 12 1 1 1 1++ 1 1 31 11 1 1 1 1 1 Species group B 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 £ragrostis plana 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Calium capense 1 21331 11 1 + 1 1 Senecio inornatus 1 11 1 1 1 +1 1 Imperata cy/ indrica 1 13 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 1 1 1 1 1 Species group C 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Hemarchria a/Cissima 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Equlsetum ramosissimum 1 1 12+11 1 1 1 Oenothera indecorus 1 1 11+21 1 1 1 Po/ygonum / apachiro/ ium 1 1 1+++1 1 1 1 Verbena orricinalis 1 1 1 ++1 1 1 1 Cyperus denudatus 1 12 1 ++1 1 + 1 1 1 1 1 41 1 1 1 1 1 S.AfrJ.Bot..1991, 57(4) 215

Table 1 (continued)

I I I Spec ies group D I I I I I I I Echinochloa holubii 212 1+++ I I Cyperus longus 1+ ++ + I I I I Species group E I I I I Andropogon appendiculstus 3 121 I Scab/osa columbaria 21 I I Berkheya radula 11 I I Haplocarpha scaposa 1+1 I Falkia oblonga ++ I I Species group F I I Protasparagus laricinus 3413534253 +2232+12224+ 1++ Acacia karroo 2 42113543342 +52232 242+22 Teucrium triFidum + I +4 211 1+ 2+ + I I Species group G I I I I Melica decumbens 2 11331213 I May tenus heterophylla 221 22 I I 21 I + I Delosperma sutherlandii + Delospera herbeum 13 2 3+ I Diospyros Iycioides 331+2 I Pentarrhinum insipidum + 11 1 I Rhus pyroides 3 I 2 I I I Spec I es group H I I I I Celtis aFricana 31 I I Clematis brachiata 131 I Ziziphus mucronata 251 I Achyranthes aspera +11 I Ehrharta erecta 3 I I Lycium oxycarpum I 31 I Coccinia sessifolia 3 I 1 I Antizoma angustifol ia I I Species group I I 1+++++12++ + ++1 I + I Corchorus asplenifolius + + 2 ++1 11+1 2+ 2+21 I Eragrostis chloromelas +12+ 12 + 11 I 1 + I Aristida congesta 12 +1+ + Sporobolus ioclados 2 2 223 + + 2++2 +11 211 Eragrostis barbinodis +2+ +2 + I + Indigofera alternans + + + 2+ ++ +11 Eragrostis species I + Anthericum fasciculatum + +++++ + + ++ ++ + +1 Hermannia coccocarpa ++ I + Digitaria argyrograpta 22+2 + ++ + + ++ I Aptosimum procumbens I I Species group J I + 2+ +12+22+12++ 21++21+ Felicia muricata +++ I 1 +++2+1 1 +++++ 1+ Blepharis integriFolia 1 + 2 122 2 1 + 1 1 1+ Eragrostis obtusa + 1+++1+ +2 + 1 21 CYlllbopogon plurinodis ++ 1+ + 1++ +11 Halarrida densirlora I I I I Species group K I I Panicum coloratum 1+4123213213+12213+ 233212 ++ +1 411342 3+1 2+ +2213 +21 + 111 ++1 Atriplex semibaccata + +++ 1+111+++1++ +++++1+ + I Hibiscus pusillus I Cynodon hirsutus +1 I 13 31+ 1+3321 24+ 1 12134331 I I +1 I 312+2 233+++2 221 112 Pentzia globosa +1++ + I ++ +++ ++ +++++ I + Albuca setosa I I Eragrostis lehmanniana I I + 11+121 11 1 12 2 I 21 I I ++1 + I ++ + + + + 1+ Talinum cafFrum + + + 1+ + +1 1+ Cyperus usitatus I I I I I I Spec I es group L I I I I I I I I Cynodon dactylon ++ 12 333 1+ 11 3 21+ 111 3 3 1 1 1 I 3 Themeda triandra 2 24 2 122131221 2 1+ +21+1 2+ + + 1+ 2 + +1 Digitaria eriantha I I Species group M I Eragrostis curvula + + + I + ++ + + I Crabbea hirsuta +1 + Trachyandra aspera ++ + Convolvulus sagittatus + + + 1 I I 1 + + 12 I Pentzia calcarea +1 + +1 Sporobolus Fimbriatus + 2 + + + + +++ +1 I Moraea thomsoni i + + I +1 Portulaca quadrifida ++ + Eragrostis superba + 1 32 1 I + I Setaria Flabellata + 211 + 1 I I + + I + ++1 Ceigeria aspera + + 1+ Cazania krebsiana I + 1++ I Pterodiscus speclosus 1+ Scilla species + I + + Heteropogon contortus I + + + I Solanum supinum I ++ + I Pollichia calilpestris +1 + I 1 Barleria macrostegia 1++ + I + I + 2 I Lycium species +1+ Ruschia hamata + I CO/flmicarpus pentandrus + I I + Commelina aFricana +1 ++ I

Species with an occurrence of '" 2 have been omitted. 216 S .-Afr.Tydskr.Plantk .• 199I,57(4)

Scheepers's (1975) 13 major commumtIes to these two Table 2 A statistical comparison of the present classifi­ tables is shown in Figure 2. Table I, representing the vlei cation method and the association analysis and bottomland communities, includes 30 reI eves from the Braun-Blanquet table Scheepers (1975) communities 2, 10, II, 12 and 13 (Figure 2), while 12 releves are from various other communities Comrnunities* Vlei & bottomlands Grasslands Total (Table 3). This table was refmed by the Braun-Blanquet Association 2,10- J3 30 7 37 procedure. A comparison of the classification of the 42 analysis 1, 3 - 9 12 186 198 releves representing vJei and bottomland communities by Total 42 193 235 the present procedure and by association analysis is given in Table 30 X 100 = 71.4% 3. 42 I In general, the vegetation can be considered to be a Them­ *Community numbers according to Scheepers (1975). eda triandra - Cynodon dactylon Grassland. A hierarchical classification of the plant communities distinguished is as follows: 235 1. The Echinochloa holubii - Cyperus longus Wetland 1.1 The Echinochloa holubii - Diplachne fusca Vlei Grassland 1.2 The Eragrostis plana Watercourse Grassland 1.3 The Echinochloa holubii - Equisetum ramosissimum Riparian Grassland 2. The Cynodon dactylon - Andropogon appendiculatus ?-l Dry Riparian Grassland IT 5t 3. The Acacia karroo - Prot asparagus laricinus Thom­ TT T 4TTrrr rCD 8] (j) @) ® T® T ([) @@@[!J@J @I veld 152 93 194 116 61 1 3651 166 ~~ 175 102 156 149 88 59167 313 212 3.1 The Acacia karroo - Melica decumbens Bottomland 184 109 181 168 94 89 188 I I 164 182 101 14 173 Thomveld 176 148 47 202 180 169 151 The Ravine Thom­ 198 177 3.1.1 Acacia karroo - Celtis africana 199 200 veld 201 203 3.2 The Acacia karroo - Eragrostis chloromelas Upland 206 Thomveld 4. The Panicum coloratum - Pentzia globosa Disturbed Figure 2 A dendrogram of the association analysis of the Grassland. Kroonstad area vegetation described by Scheepers (1975). Legend: the vlei and bottomland communities (Table I), 0; the grassland Description of the communities communities (Kooij et ai. 1991). O. 1. The Echinochloa holubii - Cyperus longus Wetland This is a broad, major wetland community associated with 1). The only other grass species constantly present is Cyno­ permanently or seasonally wet watercourses, riverbanks, don dactylon, indicating the overgrazed and degraded state valley flats, flood plains and stream channels. The margalit­ of the vegetation. This major community is divided into ic soils vary from dark, vertic, clayey soils of the Rensburg three communities, according to species composition and Form to sandy, alluvial soils of the Oakleaf Form. The wet habitat differences. marshy habitats are low in species composition. An average of nine species was recorded per sample plot. The diagnostic 1.1 Echinochloa holubii - /Jiplachne fusca Vlei Grass species for this community are the hygrophilous Echino­ land chloa holubii and Cyperus longus (species group D, Table This community corresponds to Community 12 of Scheepers

Table 3 A comparison of the location of the releves of the association analysis and the present classification method

Association analysis

Community 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 IO II 12 13 numbers a b Total

Braun- 1.1 * * * * * * * * * * 3 * * 4 Blanquet 1.2 * * * * * * * * * * * * 2 * 2 1.3 * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3 3 2 * * * * * * * * * * 2 * * * 2 3.1 * * 2 * * * 6 * * * 10 3 * * 3.2 3 IO * * * * * * * 17 4 * * * * * 2 * * * * * * 4 Total for this table 3 12 I 3 0 0 4 0 7 3 3 2 3 42 Other communities 35 4 53 21 8 19 25 9 16 0 2 0 0 193 Total rcleves 38 16 54 24 8 20 25 13 16 7 5 4 2 3 235 S.AfrJ.Bot., 1991, 57(4) 217

(1975) (Table 3). soils are typically of the Rensburg Fonn with deeply crack­ It occurs on poorly drained, periodically inundated wetter ing, vertic, calcareous and saline to alkaline dark clays, parts of valley flats or flood plains of the and its usually overwashed by sandy or silty material. Two com­ tributaries. The soils are typically of the Rensburg Fonn, a munities occur from intennittent saturated to inundated hydromorphic vertic, black clay cracking deeply when dry. conditions during wet periods, to very dry conditions during The basal cover usually varies from fairly good to poor, the dry periods. The diagnostic species for this community mostly rather poor (Scheepers 1975). This community is are Andropogon appendiculatus, Scabiosa columbaria, characterized by species group A (Table 1) with the diag­ 8erkheya radula, Haplocarpha scaposa and Falkia oblonga. nostic species being Diplachne fusca, Senecio burchellii, Other species present are the tree Acacia karroo and the Stachys hyssopoides and Crinum bulbispermum (Table 1). grasses Cynodon dactylon and Themeda triandra. The vegetation is dominated by the grass species Diplachne Jusca and Echinochloa holubii. 3. Acacia karroo - Protasparagus laricinus Thornveld In the association analysis hierarchy at the first division the 1.2 Eragrostis plana Watercourse Grassland dendrogram (Figure 2) was separated into two distinct com­ This community is identical with Community 13a of Schee­ munities, 2 and 10, situated on uplands and bottomlands, pers (1975) (Table 3) (Figure 2). respectively (Scheepers 1975). The present analysis indi­ It is associated with heterogeneous habitats on intennit­ cates definite floristic relationships among these commun­ tently flowing watercourses or drainage lines, where the ities, and the Upland Thomveld (Scheepers 1975) is there­ channel is blocked with coarse to fine soil material. The fore included with the bottom lands in this phytosociological substratum varies from sand to clay, but sandy alluvium of table. the Oakleaf Fonn predominates. The sites are often disturb­ This major community is situated on the uplands as well ed because these areas are frequently used for artificial as in the bottom lands along valley flats and steep stream­ watering points and licks for cattle and sheep. The diagnost­ banks. The Thomveld can be divided into three communities ic species for this community are the prominent grasses according to species composition and habitat differences. Eragrostis plana and Imperata cylindrica as well as the The diagnostic species for this community are Protaspara­ forbs Galium capense and Senecio inornatus (species group gus laricinus, Acacia karroo and Teucrium trifidum (species B, Table 1). Other species conspicuous in this community group F, Table 1). Other species constantly present are include the dominant Cynodon dactylon and also Stachys Melica decumbens, May tenus heterophylla, Delosperma hyssopoides, Crinum bulbispermum, Cyperus longus, Ver­ sutherlandii, Delosperma herbeum, Diospyros lycioides, Pentzia incana and Rhus pyroides as well as Cynodon bena officinalis and Andropogon appendiculatus. dactylon and Themeda triandra. 1.3 Echinochloa holubii - Equisetum ramosissimum Rip­ 3.1 The Acacia karroo - Melica decumbens Bottomland arian Grassland Thornveld This community is identical with Community 13b of Schee­ The Bottomland Thomveld is related with Community 10 of pers (1975) (Table 3, Figure 2). Scheepers (1975). It has a restricted distribution, being confined to the steep This community is situated in the bottom lands along the banks of the deeply incised Vals River and its tributary, the valley flats, steep riverbanks or in ravines (see 3.1.1). The Blomspruit. The terrain is steep with slumped terraces. The soils range from the vertic Rensburg Fonn to the Oakleaf Oakleaf Fonn of weakly stratified alluvial sandy soils is Fonn via an intennediate Rensburg Form overlain with well drained at the upper surface layers and rather low in sand. These soils tend to be somewhat saline, especially the nutrients (Scheepers 1975). These sites are liable to periodic Rensburg Fonn. This bottomland thomveld also extends up submersion, erosion, scouring and slumping, and deposition the main tributary streams and minor drainage lines, and of fresh alluvium during floods. The vegetation is composed also in small kloofs and narrow ravines, especially on the of species adapted to tolerate these conditions and to with­ minor escarpment slopes facing south and east. The diag­ stand the mechanical stress exerted by flood waters. The nostic species for this community are those of species group vegetation is heterogeneous and unstable owing to the in­ G (Table 1) including Melica decumbens, May tenus hetero­ stability of the habitat. The diagnostic species for this phylla, Delosperma sutherlandii, Delosperma herbeum, community are the prominent Hemarthria altissima and Diospyros iycioides, Pentzia incana and Rhus pyroides. Equisetum ramosissimum as well as Oenothera indecorus, Other species constantly present are Protasparagus Polygonum lapathifolium, Verbena officinalis and Cyperus laricinus, Acacia karroo, Teucrium trifidum, Cynodon denudatus (species group C, Table 1). Other species present dactylon and Themeda triandra. Species of species group J are Echinochloa holubii and the dominant Cynodon dacty­ occur in some releves of this community. This species Ion. group, as well as species group K, emphasize the affinity with the Acacia karroo . Eragrostis chloromelas Upland 2. Cynodon dactylon - Andropogon appendiculatus Dry Thomveld (3.2). Riparian Grassland This community corresponds to Community 11 (Cynodon 3.1.1 The Acacia karroo - Celtis africana Ravine Thorn­ dactylon - Setaria woodii Grassland) of Scheepers (1975) veld (Table 3). This Variant of the Bottomland Thomveld is situated along It occurs on drier riparian or bottomland situations. The narrow ravines and small kloofs. In the Scheepers (1975) 218 S.-Afr.Tydslcr.Plantk., 1991,57(4)

classification, the releves of the Ravine Thornveld are between relic dunes. It is characterized by the presence of included in Community 10, and not distinguished as a sepa­ fairly widely distributed individuals of species group K and rate community. the simultaneous absence of species groups F, G, H, I, J and The diagnostic species for this community are (species L. Species that are constantly present are the grass species group H, Table 1) Celtis aj"ricana, Clematis brachiata, Panicum coloratum, Cynodon hirsutus and Eragrostis Achyranthes aspera, Ehretia rigida, Lycium oxycarpum, lehmanianna and the halophytic and karroid suffrutices Coccinia sessilifolia and Antizoma angustifolia. Other Atriplex semibaccata and Pentzia globosa. On these species constantly present include the woody Diospyros brackish to alkaline soils, the veld should provide highly /ycioides, Ziziphus mucro nata, Rhus pyroides and Acacia palatable and nutritious grazing, but productivity is normally karroo, Pentarrhinum insipidum, Melica decumbens, Prot­ low, owing to the limiting effects of high salinity and al­ asparagus laricinus, Teucrium trifidum, Panicum colora­ kalinity levels on the utilization of soil moisture. There is a tum, Atriplex semibaccata and Cynodon hirsutus. tendency to overstock this sweet bottomland grassland, especially with sheep which utilize the most palatable and 3.2 Acacia karroo - Eragrostis chloromelas Upland nutritious grasses, thereby opening up areas for encroach­ Thornveld ment by the halophytic dwarf shrub Atriplex semibaccata Association analysis (Scheepers 1975) classified most and the karroid dwarf shrub Pentzia globosa. releves of this Upland Thornveld under Community 2 (Cor­ chorus asplenifolius - Cynodon hirsutus Thornveld, Table Conclusion 3), separated from the vlei and bottomland communities at Using association analysis, Scheepers (1975) identified 13 the first division in the dendrogram (Figure 2). major communities (Figure 2, Table 3) that were subdivided This thornveld is typically associated with extensive sheet into 25 sub-communities ('minor communities' of Scheepers and ledge outcrops of sandstone, and dolerite sills and 1975). Five of these major communities (seven sub-com­ dykes, on summits and structural terraces, plateaux, rocky munities) arc characteristic of the v leis and bottom lands ridges and hills. The soils are generally shallow and rocky, described in this report. In the present classification, eight black vertic clays of the Arcadia Form. This upland thorn­ communities grouped into four major communities were veld is generally used for beef-cattle farming. Under heavy identified. In general, easily distinguishable major plant stocking, the veld tends to break down and there is an communities with unique species compositions were clisting­ invasion and increase of species such as Corchorus aspleni­ uished by both the association analysis and the present folius, Eragrostis obtusa, Sporobolus ioclados, Eragrostis procedures using TwlNSPAN and Braun-Blanquet analyses. barbinodis, Indigofera alternans, Aristida congesta and However, in subdividing these, the polythetic methods gave Digitaria argyrograpta. Reduction of the grass cover is ecologically better interpretable classes. accompanied by severe enchroachment of Acacia karroo The results of this classification of the Kroonstad data and Protasparagus laricinus, as was found by Bredenkamp (Scheepers 1975) are reconcilable with those of Kooij et al. et al. (1989) and Bredenkamp and Bezuidenhout (1990) in (1990a - d) and the incorporation will pennit a synthesis the western Transvaal (Table 1). The diagnostic species for and formal syntaxonomic classification of the vegetation of this community are (species group I, Table 1) Corchorus the north-western Orange Free State. asplenifolius, Eragrostis chloromelas, Aristida congesta, Sporobolus ioclados, Eragrostis barbinodis, Indigofera Acknowledgement alternans, Anthericum fasiculatum and Hermannia This research was fmancially supported by the Foundation coccocarpa. Species of species group J are largely restricted for Research Development. to this community but may also occur in the bottomland thornveld. Other species constantly present are the grass References species Panicum coloratum, Cynodon hirsutus, Eragrostis ACOCKS, I.P.H. 1988. Veld types of South Africa. 3rd edn. lehmanniana, Aristida congesta, Digitaria argyrograpta, Mem. Bal. Surv. S. Afr. No. 57: 1 - 146. Government Printers, Cynodon dactylon and Themeda triandra. Pretoria. BEHR, C.M. & BREDENKAMP, G.J. 1988. A phytosociological 4. The Panicum coloratum - Pentzia g/obosa Disturbed classification of the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden. Grassland S. Afr. J. Bal. 54: 525 - 533 . This community appears to be an outlier of the Pan Veld BREDENKAMP, G.J. & BEZUIDENHOUT, H. 1990. The vege­ vegetation of the north-western Orange Free State (Kooij et tation of the Faan Meintjes Nature Reserve in the western Transvaal grassland, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Bal. 56: 54 - 64. al. 1990a), having strong floristic affinities with Acocks's BREDENKAMP, G.I., JOUBERT, A.F. & BEZUIDENHOUT, H. (1988) Veld Type (51) 'Pan Turf Veld' (Scheepers 1975). It 1989. A reconnaissance survey of the vegetation of the plains is not distinguished by Scheepers (1975), and the releves are in the Potchefstroom - Fochville - Area. S. Afr. J. Bal. representative of Communities 2, 6 and 8. Of the latter, 55: 199 - 206. Community 8 seems to be closely related to this disturbed COETZEE, B.I. & WERGER, M.I.A. 1975. An association­ grassland. analysis and the classification of plant communities. Vegetatio The vegetation of this community has a distinctly impov­ 30: 201 - 206. erished and somewhat specialized flora. The community GAUCH, H. 1982. Multivariate Analysis in Community Ecology. occurs on brackish soils in bottomlands, pans and drier vleis Cambridge University Press, New York. S.Afrl.Bot.,1991,57(4) 219

GffiBS-RUSSELL, G.E., REID, C., VAN RooYEN, I. & KooIJ, M.S., BREDENKAMP, G.I. & THERON, G.K. 199Oc. SMOOK, L. 1985. List of species of southern African plants. The vegetation of the deep sandy soils of the A land type in the 2nd edn, Part I, Mem. bot. Surv. S. Afr., No.5!, 152 pp. north-western Orange Free State, South Africa. Bot. Bull. Government Printer, Pretoria. Academia Sinica 31: 235 - 243. GffiBS-RUSSELL, G.E., WELMAN, W.G., RETIEF, E., KooIJ, M.S., BREDENKAMP, G.I. & THERON, G.K. 1990<1. IMMELMAN, K.L., GERMISHUISEN, G., PIENAAR, B.I., The plant communities of the hills and ridges in the north­ VAN WYK, M., NICOHOLAS, A., DE WET, C., MOG­ western Orange Free State, South Africa. Bot. Bull. Academia FORD, I.C. & MULVENA, I. 1987. List of species of the Sinica 31: 295 - 304. southern African plants. 2nd edn, Part 2, Mem. bot. Surv. S. KooIJ, M.S., SCHEEPERS I.C., BREDENKAMP, GJ. & Afr. No. 56, 270 pp. Government Printer, Pretoria. THERON, G.K. 1991. The plant communities of the Kroonstad HILL, M.O. 1979. TwINSPAN - a Fortran program for arranging area, Orange Free State 2: Grassland Communities. S. Afr. 1. multivariate data in an ordered two-way table by classification Bot. (in prep). of individuals and attributes. Cornell University, Ithaca, New LAND TYPE SURVEY STAFF. 1984. Land types of the maps York. 2626 Wes-Rand, 2726 Kroonstad. Mem. agric. nat. Resour. S. KOOIJ, M.S., BREDENKAMP, G.1. & THERON, G.K. 1990a. Afr. No.4. The vegetation of the north-western Orange Free State. 2. The MUELLER-DOMBOIS, D. & ELLENBERG, H. 1974. Aims and D land type. Bothalia 20: 241 - 248. Methods of Vegetation Ecology. Wiley, New York. KOOIJ, M.S., BREDENKAMP, GJ. & THERON, G.K. 1990b. SCHEEPERS, J.C. 1975. The plant ecology of the Kroonstad and The vegetation of the B land type in the north-western Orange Bethlehem areas of the Highveld Agricultural Region. D.Sc. Free State. S. Afr. 1. Bot. 56: 309 - 318. dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.