An Ordination of the Vegetation of Ntshongweni, Natal*

Abstract

The physiography, soils, climate and dense woody vegetation are briefly described for Ntshongweni, a cone-shaped hill in Natal, South Africa (29° 51' S and 30° 43' E). A primary ordination of the woody plants, based on Bray & Curtis’s (1957) method, was carried out using 60 quadrats. Four stand noda were delimited and another four noda within a secondary ordination of a cluster of quadrats which could not be interpreted within the primary ordination. Edaphic and atmospheric moisture conditions and slope aspect were proposed as the main site factors correlated with species performance. Tables of density, local frequency and constancy for species occurring in each nodum were drawn up.