8.— A CONTRIBUTION To TIIK KNOWLEDGE OF THE 

 FLORA OF THE DUAKENSBERG. 



By E. E. Galpix, F.L.S. 



Imkodi'CTIOX (Abstract). 



The Cape Colony part of the Drakeu.sberg, which I visited in 1904 

 in company with my wife, had never previously been explored by a 

 botanical collector. 



We left Queenstown on the '29th. Febniar}", 1904, and travelled to 

 Maclear (alt. 4128 ft.), from whence the expedition proper started. For- 

 tunately tlie hitherto constant downpour of rain ceased. Our way now 

 lay north-west of Maclear over the Potriverberg (alt. 6000 ft.), on 

 which four species of Frotea were met with. Its deep kloofs were 

 clothed with dense forests. Before reaching Potriverberg we found 

 almost all flowering plants gone oif, but fnjm there onwards the season 

 was in full flush, and the veld enlivened with Saiy)-ium,% Disas, 

 Gladioli, Knijjhojias, etc. Erica Cooperi, var. missionis, was especially 

 conspicuous on the plains. 



Thence we followed the 1'sitsa footpath to the top of the Drakens- 

 berg (alt. 8400 ft.). On the steep sides of one of the spurs we saw a grove 

 of Frotea trees at an altitude of about 6500 ft., the last arborescent vege- 

 tation met with. A restiaceous plant was found in fair quantity 

 growing in damp hollows on the summit of the pass. After leaving 

 the last farm seen, the first camping-place was about 1000 ft. below 

 the top of Tina Head or Doodman's Krans (as it is called locally). 

 This is the highest peak of the Drakensberg (alt. about 9650 ft.) this 

 side of the Natal border, and is situated exactly where the Witteberg 

 and Drakensberg meet, forming the corner beacon between Basutoland 

 and the Barkly East and Mount Fletcher divisions. Eumorphia 

 sericea, AVood et Evans, overgrowing the banks of a stream and some 

 shrubby Helichrysums furnished an abundant supply of firewood. The 

 snowy white Erica ThodH, Guth. et Bol. prettily carpeted a boggy 

 patch. Berkheyas with capitula 6 ins. across brightened up a steep 

 slope. A marshy flat, the source of the Bell River, yielded sweet 

 herbage to the horses, but Fetttnca caprina, Nees, locally known as 

 " Itok-baard," a grass remaining green through the severe winter, yields 

 excellent herbage on the mountain slopes. At Doodman's Krans and 

 Ben INIcDhui, and all along the summit generally the flowering season 

 was further advanced than it had been found on the ascent. All 

 Orchidaceae and most of the Liliaceae were already deflorate. Amongst 

 the most striking plants found on Doodman's Krans are a new species 

 of Eumorphia (E. proxtrata, Bol.) and a fine (probably new) species of 

 Alepid^'a. On the yevy summit there grew abundantly Harpechloa 

 capensitt, Kunth, a grass common near sea-level. Numerous steep 

 vallevs are found in the neighbourhood, which give rise to beautiful 



