Various descriptive units for woody plant communities are proposed. These are the Evapotranspiration Tree Equivalent (ETTE), Browse Tree Equivalent (BTE) and Canopied Subhabitat Index (CSI), which describe the status of a woody community in terms of potential moisture use, value of the trees as food for browsers and subhabitat suitability for grass?tree associations, respectively. A Quantitative Description Index (QDI) for woody plant communities, containing descriptive unit?values, is proposed. The calculation of the various unit?values, excluding the CSI, rests upon the relationship between spatial volume of a tree crown and its true leaf volume and true leaf dry matter, taking into account differences in leaf densities. These relationships, and the factors that influence the estimation of leaf densities, are discussed. Regression equations were developed from harvested Acacia karroo trees. Their applicability to other woody species was confirmed as predicted values differ non?significantly from true values of two other species.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.