The Plant Communities of Table Mountain III. A Six Years' Study of Regeneration After Burning

Abstract

Immediately following the destruction of vegetation on Table Mountain by fire, the ratio of nanophyllous to leptophyllous nanophanerophytes increased, since many of the former sprout freely from the base after burning while the latter regenerate only from seed. The c/o of grass-like hemicryptophytes increased, while that of broad-leaved hemicryptophytes decreased. In the early stages of regeneration there was a distinct increase in geophytes and a small increase in annuals. Chamaephytes showed a progressive increase. Euryops abrotanijolius assumed temporary dominance after 3 yrs., but was rapidly reduced in quantity after 5 yrs. At the end of 6 yrs. the vegetation was similar to, but not identical with, that destroyed, the number of spp. being larger at the close of the period. A general comparison of sclero-phyll types shows those of the southern hemisphere to be poor in annuals as compared with northern examples. The initial increase in geophytes and temporary large increase of one or more shrubby plants is characteristic of the regeneration of all sclerophyll types.