Koedoe: African Protected Area Conservation and Science (Aug 1997)

Plant communities of the forests, woodlands and thickets in northern KwaZulu-Natal

  • H.C. Eckhardt,
  • N. Van Rooyen,
  • G.J. Bredenkamp

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v40i1.266
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40, no. 1
pp. 91 – 112

Abstract

Read online

An analysis of the woody vegetation of northern KwaZulu-Natal is presented. Releves were compiled in 102 stratified random sample plots. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed 24 plant communities, also referred to as vegetation units. For each of these vegetation units, the species richness was determined. Four associations were identified which have a conservation importance. An ordination (DECORANA), based on floristic data, revealed the position of the syntaxa on environmental gradients.

Keywords