406 J. W. BEWS. 



diseases. ndividually they are even more abundant than the 

 Leguminosa?. Senecio latifolius is very abundant in 

 spring, and all the others are common: Vernonia nata- 

 lensis (333), V. corymbosa, V. hirsuta (335), V. pini- 

 f olia, V. kraussii (334), V. dregeana (366), V. vernonella 

 (332), Aster asper (12), A. erigeroides, Blumea lacera, 

 B. natalensis, Conyza incisa, Helichrysum flana- 

 gani, H. cephaloide um, H. kraussii (269), H. tereti- 

 folium (327), H. griseum (549), H. umbraculigerum, 

 Lopholaena dregeana, Senecio lasiorhizvis, 8. eru- 

 bescens, S. pterophyllus var. apterus, S. speciosus 

 (550), Othonna natalensis (64), Gazania longiscapa 

 (351), Dicoma sessiliflora, Gerbera kraussii (56), G. 

 piloselloides, G. tuberosa, G. natalensis (546). 



There is a general similai'ity in growth-form among the 

 majority of the species belonging to both these large families. 

 There is usually a large, woody or somewhat fleshy under- 

 ground stem, which branches profusely from a surface 

 " crown ,'^ the aerial branches being herbaceous or semi- 

 herbaceous. These die back or are burned off each year. 

 The species, therefore, belong to the groups hemicryptophytes 

 or chamasphytes,^ according to whether the renewal buds are 

 just underneath the surface of the soil or just above it. 



Another large class of vernal species is composed of 

 geophytic monocotyledons with tubers, corms and bulbs, 

 many of which occupy a deeper layer of soil. 



The Liliaceas include Eriospermum junodi, E. 

 natalense (73), E. ornithogaloides, Anthericum 

 elongatum (208), A. hirsutum, A. robustum, Chloro- 

 phytum longifolium, C. comosum (279), C. modestum, 

 Tulbaghia leucantha, Drimiopsis maculata (304), 

 Dipcadi umbonatum, D. viride (239), Scilla lanceae- 

 folia (202), S. inandensis, Ornithogalum inandense, 

 O. virens (70), 0. graminifolium, O. oliganthum, 

 Androcymbium decipiens and Aloe kraussii (292). 



' Bews, J. W., •• The Growth-forms of Natal Plants," ' Ti-ans. Roy. 

 Soc. of S. Africa,' 1916. 



