Flora of the Lcrihr Plat con and Environs. 363 



The dried leaves are smoked as a cure for colds in the chest and 

 head. The leaves are placed in a hole in the ground ; the native, 

 lying flat on the ground, inhales the smoke from another hole 

 connected with the first by a shallow underground channel. "Dagga" 

 is smoked in a similar way. 



A. aethiopicum, Linn. 



Mountain slopes. 3-15 in. high. Autumn A. Dieterlen, 73 ! : 

 under rocks in ravines, Phillips, 593! ; Natal, Drakensberg, McKen. 



DISTRIBUTION : Bedford. Albany. Somerset East. Granff Reiuet. 

 King William's Town. Natal. 



SESUTO : Pata-leoana. Lepata-maoa. See Gleichenia polypodioides. 

 See also note under A. Capillus- Veneris. The rachis of the leaf is 

 woven into the grass hats of shepherds as an ornament. 



CHEILANTHES, Sw. 

 C. hirta, Swartz. 



Under rocks and shady places on mountain slopes. 5-20 in. high. 

 Autumn-Summer. A. Dieterlen, 264a ! , 264b ! ; under rocks, Phillips, 

 602! 



DISTRIBUTION : Common throughout South Africa. 



SESUTO : Ma Mavaneng. The mother in the caves. Lehormnetso. 

 See Gleichenia polypodioides. A decoction prepared from the plant is 

 drunk to relieve colds and sore throat. Formerly the plant was used 

 alone : now the natives add some ginger. Other ferns are used for a 

 similar purpose, but this species is said to be the best. 



PELLAEA, Link. 



P. consobrina, Hook. 



Mountain slopes. 10-30 in. high. Summer. A. Dieterlen, 68 ! ; 

 Natal, Drakensbergen, Buchanan. 



DISTRIBUTION : Knysna. Albany. Somerset East. G-raaff Eeinet. 

 King William's Town. Komgha. Natal. Transvaal (Pilgrim's Best). 



SESUTO : Leh'oriJmetso. See Gleichenia polypodioides. The crushed 

 rhizomes a.re cooked, and the decoction is injected into the vagina of 

 a cow that has not got rid of all the after-birth in calving. It is this 

 use of the plant which has given to so many ferns the native name 

 " Lehorometso." 



P. involuta, Baker. 



Under rocks on mountain slopes. 4-11 in. high. Summer. A. 

 Dieterlen, 637 ! 



