Tongoland-Pondoland Coastal Forest

Dominated by a variety of tree species such as Milletia grandis, Protorhus longifolia, Schotia latifolia, Sideroxylon inerme and Strelitzia nocolai, these forests occur in the Msikaba, Mtentu, Mzamba and Mzimvuba river gorges and occupy floodplains, spurs and rocky valley slopes. Altogether about 120 species occur in the canopy and can reach heights of 30 m or so. Typically the shrub layer reaches a height of 4 m and is usually dominated by Combretum kraussii, Diospyros simii and Plumbago auriculata. Lianas are well represented and include species such as Acacia ataxantha, Dalbergia obovata, Flagellaria guineensis and Monanthotaxis caffra. Herbaceous elements reach about 1 m in height and are often dominated by Isoglossa hypoestiflora and Justicia campylostemon. Another feature of these forests is the common occurrence of arborescent species of Aloe and Euphorbia, which become more abundant in the south. Aloes such as Aloe candelabrum, A. ferox, A. spectabilis and the endemic A. marlothii subsp. orientalis (Liliaceae) have unbranched stems that can reach heights of 6 m, while Euphorbias like Euphorbia evansii, E. grandidens, E. ingens, E. tetragona, E. tirucalli and E. triangularis display magnificent candelabra crowns. Smaller succulents include Portulacaria afra and species of Crassula and Kalanchoe. The many endemic or near endemic species include Brachylaena uniflora (Asteraceae), Cola natalensis (Sterculiaceae), Commiphora harveyi (Burseraceae), Cordia caffra (Boraginaceae), Cryptocarya wyliei (Lauraceae), Diospyros inhacaensis (Ebenaceae), Erythrina caffra (Fabaceae), Grewia pondoensis (Malvaceae), Manilkara concolor (Sapotaceae) and Oricia bachmanii (Rutaceae). Other endemic taxa, such as Apodytes abbottii (Icacinaceae), Aspalathus gerrardii (Fabaceae) and Pseudoscolopia polyantha (Salicaceae) are more characteristic of the forest margins.

Tongoland-Pondoland Coastal Dune Vegetation

In this zone most authors distinguish four vegetation zones based on physiognomy

Pioneer Coastal Dune Vegetation
Here sand binding plants create condition suitable for sand to accumulate and starting the initial stabilisation process. The most common pioneer species is the efficient sand binder Scaevola plumieri whereas other species such as Arctotheca populifolia, Gazania rigens var. uniflora and Hydrophylax carnosa occur more sporadically. Pioneer species like Carpobrotus dimidiatus and Ipomoea pes-caprae ssp. brasiliensis also become established as stabilisation proceeds.  

Passerina Coastal Dune Scrub
Characterised by Passerina rigida, this vegetation represents the first woody zone to establish on new dunes. It is frequently accompanied by other shrubs and grasses such as Sporobolus virginicus. Other species such as Helichrysum kraussii and Imperata cylindrical become more important in the northern parts of this biozone.

Coastal Dune Thicket
The seaward slopes of older dunes are usually covered in a dense, stunted thicket up to 5m tall. Typical species include Allophylus natalensis, Brachylaena discolour ssp. discolour, Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Calpoon compressum, Eugenia capensis, Maytenus nemorosa and Mimusops caffra. However, the field layer is virtually devoid of species.

Coastal Dune Forest
These forests contain a unique combination of plants and animals and seem to be confined to the ancient coastal dunes of northern KwaZuluNatal and the extreme southern part of Mozambique (Maputaland). Dominant trees include Brachylaena huilensis, Cleistanthus schlechteri, Dialium schlechteri, Hymenocardia ulmoides, Manilkara discolor and Pteleopsis myrtifolia, while common understory shrubs are Drypetes arguta, Drypetes natalensis, Leptactinia delagoensis ssp. delagoensis, Monodora junodii, Todalliopsis bremekampii and Vitex amboniensis. There are also many characteristic lianas such as Secamone delagoensis and Uvaria lucida. On dune slopes and interdune depressions the tall tree Balanites maughamii and the understory shrub Cola greenwayi are well represented together with various endemic species such as the trees Haplocoelum gallense (Sapindaceae), Wrightia natalensis (Apocynaceae), and the creepers Acacia kraussiana (Mimosaceae) and Strophanthus luteolus (Apocynaceae). On dune crests and in some dune depressions, there are endemic shrubs such as Grewia microthyrsa (Tiliaceae), Hyperacanthus microphyllus (Rubiaceae), Oxyanthus latifolius (Rubiaceae) and Psydrax fragrantissima (Rubiaceae) together with trees such as the endemic Combretum mkuzense (Combretaceae). However, these forests support a multitude of other endemic taxa like Aneilema arenicola (Commelinaceae), Barieria prionitis ssp. delagoensis (Acanthaceae), Bonatea lamprophylla (Orchidaceae), Cleome bororensis (Capparaceae), Crassula maputensis (Crassulaceae), Encephalartos ferox (Zamiaceae) and Pavetta gerstnerii (Rubiaceae) just to mention a few.

Tongoland-Pondoland Swamp Forest

Occupying the river valleys and wetland areas, particularly at the confluences of the Msikaba and Mtentu rivers, these forests are dominated by Strelitzia nicolai, Syzigium cordatum and the endemic Cryptocarya wyliei (Lauraceae), and can reach heights of 10 m or so. Dominant shrubs, which grow from 2-3 m, are Myrica serrata, Phyllica paniculata and Prionium serratum, while common lianas include Acacia ataxacantha, Dalbergia multijuga and Monanthotaxis caffra. The herb layer ranges from 30 cm to 1 m in height and commonly includes Cyperus prolifer, Ischaemum fasciculatum, Juncus iomatophyllus and Lobelia coronopifolia. Among the many endemic taxa are Alberta magna (family?), Centella graminifolia (Mackinlayaceae), Helichrysum populifolium (Asteraceae), Phylica natalensis (Rhamnaceae), Plectranthus saccatus (Lamiaceae), Podolyria velutina (family?), Psoralea abbottii (Fabaceae) and Tarconanthus trilobus var. trilobus (family?).

Tongoland-Pondoland Scrub Forest

Scrub forest is a transitional community between forest to thicket and is consequently fairly restricted and shows a great deal of variation. On coastal dunes, wind pruned dune thicket often gives way to scrub forest in which the most conspicuous trees include Ekebergia capensis, Euclea racemosa, Sideroxylon inerme, Trichilia dregeana and the endemic or near endemic Cordia caffra (Boraginaceae) and Mimusops caffra (Sapotaceae). In parts of the rocky coast of the Transkei Euphorbia triangularis dominates a narrow fringe of scrub forest at the mouths of rivers. Associates include Cassipourea gerrardii, Dracaena hookerana, Phoenix reclinata, Psychotria capensis, Rapanea melanophloeos, Turraea floribunda, together with the endemic or near endemic, Diopyros natalensis (Ebenaceae), Euclea natalensis (Ebenaceae) and Milletia grandis (Fabaceae). Moving inland to the interior valleys, the scrub forest is often dominated by the endemic Aloe bainesii (Liliaceae), which can reach heights of 15 m. Many of its associates are also endemic including Ficus natalensis (Moraceae) and Galpinia transvaalica (Lythraceae).

Tongoland-Pondoland Thicket

Also know as valley bushveld since southern stands are mainly confined to valleys such as Great Fish Valley and the Sundays River Valley, but in the north it is more extensively developed occupying low-lying terrain between the coastal forests and the inland mountains. It generally occurs where there is too little rainfall to support forest and is regarded as a natural climatic climax in these areas. The vegetation is a mixture of evergreen and semi-evergreen elements and ranges from about 3-6 m in height. Typical shrubs include Azima tetracantha, Brachylaena ilicifolia, Carissa bispinosa, Cassine aethiopica, Diospyros dichrophyllum, Ehretia rigida, Grewia occidentalis, Olea africana, Pappea capensis, Phyllanthus verrucosus, Plumbago auriculata, Sideroxylon inerme, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Xeromphis rudis, Zanthoxylum capensis and the endemic Bauhinia natalensis (Fabaceae). Other endemic or near endemic species include Harpophyllum caffrum (Arecaceae), Protorhus longifolia (Anacardiaceae) and Sclerocarya caffra (Anacardiaceae).

Tongoland-Pondoland Grasslands

Terrain dominated by grass can be found along either side of the Mnyameni River, between the Mateku and Msikaba rivers, above the Mkambati and Mtentu river gorges and above the Mzimvubu River valley, but it is mainly confined to steep slopes, rocky hilltops and gorge margins. The dominant grasses are Aristida junciformis, Digitaria eriantha, Diheteropogon amplectans, Eragrostis racemosa, Hyparrhenia hirta, Loudetia simplex, Monocymbium ceresiiforme and Themeda triandra. Typical herb include Selaginella drageana and species of Watsonia, but there are also scattered shrubs such as Brachyleana discolor, Diospyros villosa and the endemic or near endemic Ficus natalensis (Moraceae). Other endemic taxa indigenous to these grasslands are Brachystelma australe (Apocynaceae), Indigofera hilaris (Fabaceae), Lampranthus stipulaceus (Mesembryanthemaceae) and Senecio rhynolaenus (Asteraceae).

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