Abstract
Vegetation dynamic studies in the semi-arid grasslands of Southern Africa have indicated that Themeda triandra reacts as a decreaser when vegetation is under- or over-utilized or increaser when vegetation is moderately severely over-utilized. This suggested that different ecotypes within this species may be involved. A study aimed at the ecotypification of important pasture grasses of Southern Africa was initiated, whereby 21 morphological, 21 epidermal, 5 chemical characters and productivity were used in a principle component and cluster analysis. Results presented here indicate that five ecotypes exist within T. triandra in the semi-arid grasslands of Southern Africa. The ultimate grouping of these ecotypes into a functional special purpose classification system can provide rangeland ecologists with lists of ecotypes, to be used when interpreting ecological data and describing plant community dynamics in the semi-arid grasslands of Southern Africa.
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