238 A NOTE ON THE GENUS FAUREA, Harv. 



I may perhaps further explain the distribution of F. 

 Mcnaughtonii at Knysna, and in order to do so more clearly 

 enclose for your information a tracing of the divisional map, on 

 which you will find the Lily Vlci Fcrcst marked. The dotted 

 line indicates the perimeter of the forest, and you will note 

 that the forest is bounded on the east, south and west by the 

 Knysna and Red Els Rivers respectively. The former river 

 runs in a gorge 600-800 ft. deep with sides mostly precipitous, 

 but nevertheless wooded in both sides down to the water's edge. 

 The lower part of the Red Els is as deep, but the sides less steep 

 and better wooded (or timbered), wdiile the upper portion is but 

 300-400 feet deep. The stream is only an ordinary mountain 

 torrent. 



Now, with exception of three or four large trees and a 

 fair regrowth around them in seedling and sapling stages, at 

 the points marked with crosses on the road leading northwards 

 from the forest station, no other trees of this species are known 

 at present outside Lily Vlei Forest, and the two rivers, there- 

 fore, would seem to have effectively stopped the distribution of 

 this tree. It is just possible that there may be a few specimens 

 in the part of the forest between the road above referred to and 

 Lily Vlei Forest, but thus far I have not found any. This is 

 no doubt strange in face of the excellent regrowth of the species 

 in Lily Vlei Forest, and I ascribe this to the following causes: — 



(i) The seed does not appear to be eaten by birds,- and is 

 therefore depend,ent on wind and water transportation. 



(2) It is not sufficiently winged, in comparison to weight and 

 size, for wind transportation over long distances. 



(3) In so far as water transportation is concerned, the 

 seed falls during autumn and early winter, when rains are good 

 but light, and the seed germinates so quickly and freely that 

 there is not much chance of it being washed away by floods. 



(4) During autumn our winds are moderate. Strong (Berg- 

 winds) commence in June onl}-, as a rule." 



