THE VEGETATION OF NATAL. 305 



hepatics, such as Jungermannia spp., and Lejeunia 

 spp., and numerous lichens. 



These epiphytes are found chiefly in the moister parts, often 

 preferring plenty of sunshine when obtainable. 



Heterophytes. — There are Cassytha cap en sis, which is 

 holoparasitic, and Loranthus (five species) and Viscum 

 (eight species), hemiparasitic. Root-parasites are mostly 

 veld-plants, and will be described later. The following are 

 saprophytic orchids: Liparis bowkeri, Calanthe nata- 

 lensis, Stenoglottis fimbriata. Saprophytic fungi are 

 abundant, but parasitic fungi are fewer. 



Cauliplory (Stem-flowering) is seen in Fie us capensis, 

 Halleria lucida, and Rawsonia lucida. 



LiANES. — These are very abundant. The most impoi'tant 

 and characteristic ones for each of the three types of bush are 

 given in the detailed lists. Among them all there are, as far 

 as I know, no root-climbers. They are mostly of a pliant ropy 

 type, or thick and woody. Watch-spring tendrils are common. 

 Many are almost, if not entirely devoid of leaves till they 

 reach the light. Of Ipomaea there ai-e twenty-five species 

 found in Natal, most of them climbers. The Leguminosse 

 are well represented by the genera Canavallia, Vigna, 

 Phaseolus, Grlycine, Dolichos and several sj^ecies of 

 Dalbergia. The genus Vitis is another large one (seven- 

 teen species), mostly climbers. Among the Asclepiadaceas 

 there are the genera Vincetoxicum, Riocreuxia and 

 Dregia; among the Composite, Senecio, Mikania and 

 Vernonia, which contain climbers. There are many climb- 

 ing species of Asparagus. Cucurbitacea3 are fairly well 

 represented, and among Passiflorete there are Ophio- 

 caulon gummifera, Modecca digitata and Ceratio- 

 sicyos ecklonii. Other genera are Smilax, Combretum, 

 Secamone, Cissampelos, Popowia, Acridocarpus, 

 Helinus, Cardiospermum, Cnestis, Rubus, Plectronia, 

 Solanum, Jasminum, Strophanthus, Oncinotis, Dele- 

 champia, Thunbergia, Many of these are confined to the 

 coast districts. 



