Original Research

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

H.C. Eckhardt, N. Van Rooyen, G.J. Bredenkamp
Koedoe | Vol 40, No 1 | a266 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v40i1.266 | © 1997 H.C. Eckhardt, N. Van Rooyen, G.J. Bredenkamp | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 01 August 1997 | Published: 01 August 1997

About the author(s)

H.C. Eckhardt, University of Pretoria, South Africa
N. Van Rooyen, University of Pretoria, South Africa
G.J. Bredenkamp, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Abstract

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

classification, community, conservation, new syntaxa, species richness, vegetation unit.

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Crossref Citations

1. Spatial changes in forest cover on the KwaNibela Peninsula, St Lucia, South Africa, during the period 1937 to 2008
B M Corrigan, M Kneen, C J Geldenhuys, B-E van Wyk
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science  vol: 72  issue: 1  first page: 47  year: 2010  
doi: 10.2989/20702620.2010.481071