Flora of the Leribe Plateau and Environs. 5 



often subjected to drought, when the vegetation presents ascorched-up 

 appearance. 



The mean average rainfall at Leribe during the five years 1909-1913 

 was 27'01 in., most of which falls from December to March. The 

 drv months are from June to September. 



Rainfall at Leribe Mission Station* 



December 6'06 1*59 0'65 6'28 0-00 2*91 



OECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FEATURES. 



The general aspect of the plains, slopes, and plateau is that of a 

 grass-land, though in a few localities thickets composed principally of 

 Cussonia paniculata and Euclea lanceolata, intertwined with Rhoicisstis 

 cuneifolia, are seen under the precipitous cliffs. The valley and plain 

 are largely cultivated with maize and Kaffir-corn, while the plateau 

 affords good grazing for numerous head of cattle, sheep, and goats. 

 On the plain the predominant grass is Eragrostis plana, among which 

 many herbaceous and sub -herbaceous plants are found. Owing to 

 the extensive cultivation it is not surprising to find also a large 

 number of imported weeds, and such species as Datura Stramonium, 

 Verbena offn-i nalis, Chenopodiwm murale, C. ambrosioides, Alternanthera 

 Achyrantha, Amaranthus />ai/i<-iiliitns, etc., are commonly met with. 



On the west slopes of the plateau the predominant grasses are 

 Amlropogon hirtus, Erai/msfis curvula var. conferta, 

 imlierbis var. molli<-<na, and Eragrostis )>lnn<t : Tricholaena 



us. Sr1rin Jlali/'Uata, Andropogon contortus, Penni- 

 are common, while less frequent are 



Records kept by the Rev. H. Dieterlen. 



