An analysis of the vegetation of the relatively low altitude regions of the North-eastern Mountain Sourveld of the eastern Transvaal escarpment is presented. Releves were compiled in 53 stratified random sample plots. ATWINSPAN-classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, revealed seven plant communities. In the hierarchical classification one class, one alliance, four associations, four subassociations and two valiants are recognised. Formal syntaxonomic descriptions of the syntaxa are given. All communities are related to specific environmental conditions, of which geology, aspect, altitude and rockiness of the soil surface are the most important

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This study aims to elucidate the relationship between vegetation communities, plant species richness, and their environmental setting within the various wetland types on the MCP, in order to contribute to the understanding of wetland zones. . Study areaThe MCP is demarcated by the Mozambican border in the north the town Mtunzini in the south the Indian Ocean in the east the Lebombo Mountains in the north-west and the N on the south-west. This study focuses on the northern parts of the MCP only Figure . The MCP has a subtropical climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Groundwater is the principal source of water for most of the lakes and wetlands in Maputaland [ ], and moves rapidly through the system due to high permeability, high rainfall, and low water gradients. Two primary porosity aquifers are present on the MCP-a shallow, unconfined aquifer and a deeper, confined aquifer [ ]. The shallow, unconfined aquifer is driven by rainfall which infiltrates and percolates through the sandy soil until it reaches the impermeable Kosi-"ay Formation, where after the water then moves laterally to exit the aquifer in the form of a surface water source.In terms of biodiversity the MCP fall within the Maputaland Centre of Endemism Centre. This is one of "frica s most important biodiversity and endemism hotspots, and is located at the southern end of the "frican tropic where many plant and animal species reach the limit of their range. "n assortment of diverse ecosystems and many broad ecological zones such as thicket, grassland, bushveld, forest, sand forest and swamp forest occur here [ ].Most of the wetlands occurring outside conservation areas are degraded. Local inhabitants of the area utilise the wetland areas extensively for subsistence agriculture due to the infertile nature of the sandy soil. " recent threat to the health of wetlands is the informal plantations that have sprung up all over the MCP during the past years. These Eucalyptus plantations have a marked effect on the water table and the subsequent dynamics of the wetlands systems in the area. The MCP is rich in peatlands and contains about % of the estimated peat resources of South "frica [ ]. This region contains the largest and highest density of peatlands of all the Peat Eco-Regions. It is estimated that -% of these peatlands are currently being utilised by the local community for subsistence agriculture and other uses [ ].The Ecology and Specie' Richne'' of the Diffe'ent Plant Communitie' Within Selected…