314 OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



with a pretty heavy rainfall, so that the coastal vegetation is 

 luxuriant, and made up to a great extent of species related to those 

 of the tropical regions to the north. Such are the wild date-palms 

 {Phoenix rcdinata) and another palm, Hyphaene crinita, several 

 species of Ficus, the banana-like Strelitzias and many others. 



In the valleys between the coastal hills is a forest formation of 

 moderate sized trees, mostly of tropical affinities like the species 

 of Ficus, the "water-boom" (Sijzygium cordata), of the Myrta- 

 ceae; Albizzia, Mimusops, Strychnos, Combretum, etc. 



Along the coast, in places, are mangrove swamps, in which the 

 principal species is the white mangrove (Avicennia officinalis). 

 Back of the mangroves, the wide-spread yellow tree-Hibiscus 

 (H. tiliaceus) and a species of Barringtonia, a handsome genus of 

 trees characteristic of the strand-floras of the eastern tropics. 



Many handsome evergreen shrubs form the undergrowth of the 

 forest; among them the writer noted the brilliant scarlet flowers of 

 a trumpet creeper {Tecoma Capensis), the fragrant white flowers 

 of the " Natal plum" (Carissasp.), and several species of 

 Gardenia. 



Adding much to the tropical aspect of the jungle were great 

 masses of the stately Strelitzia Augusta, much resembling the 

 traveller's tree (Ravenala) of Madagascar. Lianas are conspic- 

 uous, among them an evergreen grapevine (Vitis Capensis), growing 

 to the tops of the trees, and many less rampant vines— cucurbits, 

 morning glories, and some curious asclepiads scrambled over the 

 shrubs and smaller trees. 



A very splendid sight was the " Kaffir-boom," Erythrina Caffra, 

 the leafless branches bearing clusters of vermilion flowers. 



Engler l reports two epiphytic orchids, Angraecum sp. and 

 Polystachya sp. as common in this region, but these were not seen 

 by the writer. 



In the sheltered valleys two tree-ferns, Cyathea Dregii and 

 Hemitelia Capensis, occur, and also Todea barbara. 



The floral display in Natal is less remarkable than in the Cape 

 region, but there are nevertheless many very beautiful species. 

 Near Durban are " flats" like those around Cape Town, and in 

 these are many showy flowers, especially Compositae, e. g., Ga- 

 zania, Senecio, Gerbera, everlastings; Lobelia, sundews, and many 



1 Loc cit., p. 411. 



