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Fanned of trees at least 8 m tall with their crowns interlocking.
Several types, occur in Malawi.
Lowland Forests (occur at less 1370m)
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Lowland seasonal rain forests: Occur at less 1370 m and are
dry in 1-5 months of the year but alleviated by high atmospheric humidity
or frequent mists. The undergrowth is sparse.
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Lowland dry semi-deciduous forest.
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Lowland deciduous forests: chiefly in the Lower Shire Valley
and Phalombe Plain.
Fringing Forest: Widespread along the banks of rivers,
streams and lakes.
Montane Forests (occur above 1370 m).
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Sub-montane seasonal rain forest.
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Montane forests (most above 1980 m but sometimes as low as
1675 m).
Intermediate between forest and thicket. Occur in exposed
picks and crests on the higher mountains and on small hills.
Typical Woodland.
Open stands of trees at least 5 m tall with crown covering at least
20% of surface in lateral contact. Grass cover
usually present. Two ecologically distinct units of woodlands occur
in Malawi. These are miombo (Brachytstegw)
and
Mopane woodlands.
Scrub Woodland
Intermediate between woodland and scrub land. The majority
of the plants are stunted trees. Commonly found at the edges of dambos.
Transition Woodland
Physiognomically intermediate between woodland and forests,
and floristically a mixture of forest and woodland species.
.Mainly composed of shrubs not touching each other. Often
with a grass stratum. Montane shrub lands occur on the exposed slopes of
Mulanje Mountain.
Grasses, graminoid and other herbaceous plants are predominant
in the cover with trees and shrubs almost or totally absent. Two types
of grasslands occur m Malawi, namely:
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Edaphic grasslands: associated with drainage lines.
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Secondary grasslands: occur where forest or woodland has
been destroyed, usually by fire and subsequently colonized by grasses.
| WOODED GRASSLAND or SCRUBLAND |
Grassland with scattered trees or shrubs covering not more
than 20%. Most of the wooded grassland is secondary resulting from the
destruction of woodland.
Farmland with scattered trees which have usually been left
for shade or to provide fruit. Wooded farmlands are very wide spread in
Malawi.. |
