154 DR. F. WELWITSCH ON THE VEGETATION 



abounds, consisting chiefly of LeguminoscG ; Ficus ; three species of 

 Nathusia ; Apocynew, forming trees with large blossoms ; Mimosecs, 

 sometimes as trees, sometimes as climbers ; several Asiatic Bubi- 

 acecd in the form of trees (e. g. Hymenodictyon, Wallich) ; and a 

 stately new Monodora (M. angolensis, mihi). At the foot of the 

 rocks, and along the many little brooks, grow seven species of 

 Ophioylossum, three Schizcsce, and many Ferns, partly gold-dusted, 

 and a magnificent tree-fern. Under these woody ferns (Cyathea, 

 spec.) are found four or five Umbelliferce and several curious 

 Ruhiacece. On the almost naked rocks grow fleshy Euphorhiacece ; 

 about ten species of Commelynecd, with the habits of Mesemhry- 

 unthemum, besides beautiful Fortulacece, TillcEce (!), Cyperaeea 

 leucocephala ; and in the brooks themselves two species of Podo- 

 stomece, together with pretty BatrachospermecB and Zygnemata. 

 In stagnant water appear Ottelia, Nymphcea, and two Aponoge- 

 tonece with blue blossoms, probably new genera. In wet meadows 

 there occur six species of Utricularia, a Drosera^ several Campa- 

 nulacecB {LigJitfootia) , an Isoetes (terrestris) , and a great number 

 of small Scrophulariacecd and Leguminosce, as well as a kind of 

 Erigeron, But now, on the steep walls of the higher rocks, what 

 sort of viscid shrubs with scaly stems and blue flowers do we 

 perceive ? Two species of Vellosiece ! which, in conjunction with 

 several fruticose Orchids that grow even on the barest rocks, 

 cover all the mountains of Pungo Andongo. However, the before- 

 named plants are not the only American guests of this territory. 

 As soon as one approaches the summits {juga altiora rv/pium) of 

 the rocky mountains, one finds the sides of the top overgrown 

 with Heurnia and Sarcostemma (which announce the Cape of 

 Grood Hope), together with a Cactus, which is a Ehipsalis ; whilst 

 on rough places there appear a Musa (scapo ventricoso ! ssepius 

 diametr. 5-6-ped.), a Diploelinitim {Begoniacece) and Erythro- 

 xylum, spec. 



But notwithstanding these curiosities, so frequently paradoxical, 

 the splendour and variety of the flora of Pungo Andongo is not 

 nearly exhausted. About a hundred species of ^vetty Cyperacece 

 {Oyperus, fifty spec), and above a hundred Graminece, in con- 

 nexion with very pretty Polygalacece and Ampelidece, adorn the 

 lower plains ; and whilst from the coast up to the boundary of 

 this region I scarcely met with ten LiliacecB, I was surprised to 

 find around Pungo Andongo more than fifty species ! Tour spec. 

 Hypoxis, above twenty-five Orchidece (among them a Disa !) and 

 Gommelynacece occur in such abundance, that the whole of large 



