Describe the velds along with it's climate and flora and fauna.

sorry it was a rong info:P

Introduction:Temperate grasslands are composed of a rich mix of grasses and forbs and underlain by some of the worlds most fertile soils. Since the development of the steel plow most have been converted to agricultural lands.

Climate:Semiarid, continental climates of the middle latitudes (Koeppens BSk climate type) typically have between 10 and 20 inches of precipitation a year. Much of this falls as snow, serving as reservoir of moisture for the beginning of the growing season. Warm to hot summers are experienced, depending on latitude.

Vegetation:Perennial grasses and perennial forbs [especially Compositae (or Asteraceae, depending on the taxonomic system used) and Leguminosae--the sunflower and pea families, respectively] are dominant growthforms. Two or more strata of grasses (erect grasses and recumbent species) are recognized in the more humid expressions of the biome.

Grasses.Perennial grasses, with their growth buds at or just below the surface, are well-adapted to drought, fire, and cold. The tiller or narrow, upright stem reduces heat-gain in the hot summers; the intricate root systems trap moisture and nutrients. Two basic types are:

• Turf- or sod-forminggrasses, with rhizomes or underground stems from which new plants spring forth; associated with the more humid grasslands
• Bunch grasses, without rhizomes, that reproduce by seed; associated with the drier parts of the biome.

Major regional expressions:

North America: theprairiesof the Central Lowlands and High Plains of the US and Canada. The Palouse Prairie of eastern Washington state, the California grasslands, and the desert grasslands of the Southwest are also temperate grasslands.

Eurasia: thesteppesfrom Ukraine eastward through Russia and Mongolia.

South America: thepampasof Argentina, Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil

Africa: theveldin the Republic of South Africa.

Soils:Calcification is the dominant soil-forming process in semiarid regions. Mild leaching, high organic content, and concentration of calcium carbonate in the B horizon typifies the dark brownmollisolsdeveloped under the temperate grasslands. When this process works on a loess that itself is rich in calcium, the worlds most fertile soils are created, thechernozems(A Russian term meaning black soil). Loess and hence chernozem underlie the eastern prairies of the US, the pampas of South America, and the steppes of Ukraine and Russia.

Fauna:The temperate grassland fauna is very low in diversity, especially in comparison with the tropical grasslands or savannas of Africa. In North America the dominant herbivores are bison Bison bison) and pronghorn (the sole member of the Nearctic endemic family, Antilocapridae). Rodent herbivores include the pocket gopher (another Nearctic endemic), ground squirrels, and the prairie dog. Carnivores include coyote (actually an omnivore), badger, and the federally endangered black-footed ferret, the last two members of the weasel family.

On the Russian steppes the fauna formerly included wisent (Bison bonasus), tarpan or wild horse, and saiga antelope, among others. Mole rats, fossorial members of one of the two mammal families endemic to the Palearctic, are conspicuous by virtue their many mounds. Polecats and other members of the weasel family are among the larger, extant carnivores.

Trees

Belizean forests support over 700 tree species including a large variety of economically and historically important trees. Economically valuable trees have played a vital role in the history of the country. Indeed, the history and the very existence of Belize as a colony is inseparable form the logging industry. Among the most important historical tree crops are logwood, mahogany and chicle. The national tree of Belize is the Mahogany Tree (Swietenia Macrophilla).

Fruits and Nuts

Common fruit trees of Belize include Cashew, Coconut, Custard Apple, Guava, Mango and Papaya, Banana, Pineapple and Mammee.

Orchids

The national flower of Belize is the Black Orchid (Encyclia Cocheeata). There are approximately 250 species of orchids in Belize.

Medicinal Plants

At Ix Chel Farm, the Panti Medicinal Trail winds through a living display of arboreal and herbal remedies in the second-growth forest. The trees of nature seem overwhelming as one strolls along the path, along which signs describe one plant after another, many bearing unusually descriptive names. By cooperating with the wise elders of a community, ethnobotanists have been able to collect samples of many unusual plant specimens, and new kinds of non-traditional medicine are now being used to treat the sick and injured.

Other Plant Life

Belize is estimated to have roughly 4,000 species of native flowering plants (Angiosperms) of which 2,500 are dicots (Dwyer and Spellman 1981) and 1,500 are monocots (Spellman et al. 1975). The latter include approximately 250 species of orchids (B. Adams, pers. comm.). Approximately 700 species of native trees are reported for Belize, representing 331 genera in 87 plant families.

Cats

There are five cat species in Belize. The largest, the jaguar was among the most revered animal of the ancient Maya and even today, commands great respect among Belizeans. Alan Rabinowitz, during an intensive field study, brought the jaguar into the international spotlight as a means to protect the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the only designated jaguar preserve in the world. The other four native cats of Belize are the puma, ocelot, margay and the jaguarundi.

Monkeys

The community Baboon Sanctuary was established in 1985 to protect one of the few healthy black howler monkey populations in Central America.

Tapirs

Called a "mountain cow" by the locals, this nocturnal species is the national animal of Belize. Still fairly plentiful here, the Baird's tapir has almost disappeared from the rest of its native Central America and Mexico, earning it a place on the endangered species list.

Manatees

Belize is said to have the largest population of manatees of any country, with the possible exception of the United States. They have been protected in Belize for many years.

Other Mammals

Other mammals include the river otter, Brainville's spotted dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin, Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, peccary, hickatee and deer among others.

Turtles

Three of the world's eight species of sea turtle are known to nest in Belize: the green, loggerhead, and hawksbill. All three species found in Belize, have been declared endangered. Visitors are urged to respect the nesting season , June 1st to August 31st.

Snakes

Variously known as the yellow-jaw tommygoff, barba amarilla, and tres minutos, the fer-de-lance is a nocturnal pit viper related to the water moccasin and tropicl rattlesnake. The fer-de-lance is at home in any part of Belize, including cities and can be vicious if it does decide to attack.

Lizards

Two iguanid species also live in Belize: the green iguana or "bush-chicken " and the black or land iguana, locally called a "wish-willy". Basilisks, locally labeled, "the Jesus Christ lizard" are also found in Belize.

Crocodiles

There are two crocodile species in Belize, the American crocodile which occurs mainly in coastal areas and Morelet's crocodile which is found in areas in the Community Baboon Sanctuary. Creole name for both is "alligator".

The pamphlet entitled "Checklist of the Birds of Belize" (Carnegie Museum of Natural History) lists over 530 species that have been sighted here, including more than 200 migratory birds from North America who winter in the tropics. In many parts of the inland forest, it is not unusual to see as many as 120 birds over a period of as little as four or five days. At the request of the Belize Audubon Society, seven small mangrove cayes were declared bird sanctuaries. These cayes are nesting rookeries for Wood Storks, Great and Cattle Egrets, Boat-billed and Tricoloured Herons, Reddish Egrets and White Ibis, as well as Magnificent Frigatebirds, Anhingas and other birds.