Regeneration patterns in Cape subtropical transitional thicket; where are all the seedlings?

At each of 18 sites, chosen to represent the range of subtropical transitional thicket communities in the Cape, 30 plots, each 1 m2, were laid out. Species occurrence in different strata was noted, as was the incidence of seedlings and sprouts. Almost all canopy species comprised multi-stemmed individuals which reproduce vegetatively by the production of rooted sprouts. Most individuals are apparently exceptionally long-lived. There is a relative absence of seedlings of most canopy species. Notable exceptions are arborescent succulents. There is no relation between canopy dominance and numbers of seedling regeneration in the woody taxa. These findings are discussed in terms of stability of thicket. By elkeen van die 18 gebiede wat gekies is om die reeks subtropiese valleibosveld-gemeenskappe in die Kaap te verteenwoordig, is 30 persele van 1 m2 elk uitgelê. Die verspreiding van spesies in verskillende strata is aangeteken, sowel as die voorkoms van saailinge en uitspruitsels. Die kroondakspesies bestaan bykans almal uit meerstammige individue wat vegetatief voortplant. Dit bring mee dat individue blykbaar baie langlewend kan wees. Daar is relatief min saailinge van die meeste kroondakspesies aanwesig, in teensteliing met boomagtige sukkulente. By die houtagtige spesies bestaan geen verband tussen kroondak-dominansie en die aantal saailinge nie. Hierdie bevindings word bespreek in terme van die stabiliteit van die valleibosveld.