IMPORTVNrE OF STATE HERBARIUM 27 



Rhus spp. (Smnaeh). in 1915, £84,000 worh came into 

 the United Kingdom. In S.A. there are 

 over 50 species of the genus. 



Quite apart from those included in the above list, 

 we have in S(mth Africa many plants of undoubted 

 value. 



The few mentioned below have been investigated and 

 reported on by the Imperial Institute. Asclepias 

 jruticosa, Hihiscus caiinahinus, Slda rhomhifolia^ 

 Sansecicra spp. produce good tiln-e while g-ums have been 

 obtained from species of Acacia and Gomhretum. Re- 

 cently a good report was received on the oil produced 

 from seeds of Pappea capcnsis. Some species such as 

 Elephantorrhwa Burchellii and Ruhia cordifolia produce 

 dyes of good quality. Drugs are obtained from species 

 of Barosma (Buchu). Aloe (aloes "l, Datura (hyoscya- 

 mine). Many of our grasses such as Tambookie grass 

 (Cymhopogon nardus var. vallidus, Cijmbopogon hlrtus, 

 etc.) produce a good pulp from which paper can be made. 

 From many plants hats^ baskets, brooms, etc., can be 

 made, and there are possibilities of the preparation of 

 acetate of lime, acetic acid, acetone, methyl alcohol, and 

 wood tar from the distillation of waste wood of our 

 forests. * 



The Position of the Herbarium in Botanical Science. 



In the foregoing pages the writer lias attempted a 

 short and very general sketch of the scope and value of 

 Botanical Science and some of the problems to be solved 

 in South Africa with the aid of the botanist. This 

 leads up to the role played by the Herbarium in Botanical 

 Science. A Herbarium, one need hardly explain, is a 

 collection of dried plants properly classified and named 

 and where the flora of any part of the country may be 

 studied. Not only is the herbarium a repository for a 

 (Collection of plants tliemselves but it is a place where 



