298 FLORA OF PORTUC.UKSE EAST Al'RICA. 



ficiis belonj;- to this type, uliicli also includes numerous 

 s^rasses, reeds, and Cyperacese. 



III. Extra-Tropical Thorx-vfld. 



This comprises a larj^e area in the districts of Lourenco 

 ISIarques, and Gaza, usually comparatively level, with close 

 compact soil of no i^reat depth, and with abundant grass, the 

 annual burning- of which kills out most other trees, only iire- 

 resisting- Acacias and allied trees surviving. These form an 

 open bush-country, the trees standing far enough apart to 

 allow the grass to grow freely, and still close enough to give 

 a general forest appearance when viewed from a distance. 

 Over 20 species of Acacia belong to the Province; most of 

 these belong to this region and are gregarious, usually only 

 two or three species being present in one locality, each species 

 adhering rigidlv to its own soil requirements, which differ 

 much. Thus, the Fever-tree, Acacio xanihophlcca, with large 

 ghastlv glaucous stems, grows alone on flat clay soils subject 

 to inundation; .-!. olbida, another large tree, requires 

 rather drier and deeper soil; A. )iigrcsccits and A. Wchvitschii 

 prefer dry flat alluvial plains; while A. arahica and A. hirtclla 

 approach more on to the sandy soils, and A. caffra var. 

 mipcstris prefers rocky banks. 



Other kinds which occur in this region are species of 

 Dichrostachys. Albiccio, Schotia, Ficus and Coinbrctum, 

 LonchocarpJis Jaxiflorus, llohisauilins spcciosus, Rhus longi- 

 folia, R. iusigiiis, etc. Herbaceous Compositae and 

 Leguminosce are abundant. Orchids, Liliaceae and Cyper- 

 acese are scarce, grasses are numerous, and ferns absent except 

 for an occasional patch of Bracken (Ptcris aquiliua). Occa- 

 sionally the trees are absent, leaving flat grassy plains. 



IV. Extra-Tropical Saxd-vkld. 



The whole of the coastward portion of Lourenco Marques, 

 Gaza and Inhaml:)ane. so far as not alluvial river-valleys, is 

 rolling bush-country with light sandy soil — often almost pure 

 sand to a great depth. Trichilia cmciica. Commiphora spp. 

 Anacardium occidcnialc. Sclcrocarya caffra. Cordyla africana. 

 Trachvlohium mossamhicensis. Kigclia piuiiata. Cono- 

 pharyhgia. I'crjiiiualia. BracJiylffua. Ficii.s' spp. Erythriiia. 

 Aiidradia. Chrysoplivllum. (iarciiiia. Siryclinos. Aiioiia, etc.. 

 etc., characterise this region south of the Limpopo, while 

 north of it HracJiystcgia spicccformis is added, the latter often 

 forming almost pure forest. Grass is scarce and often absent, 

 ferns are almost absent except, in occasional places. Poly- 

 podium plivmatodcs, P. iiicanum. a.nd Ophioglossnm vulgatuin: 

 while epiphytal Orchids are almost equallv rare. Liliaceae 

 and terrestrial orchids, if present, were leafless at the time of 

 my visit (winter), except a few small-flowered species of Disa 

 and Sat\<rinm and one Enliphia. 



The Pine-apple is abundant in a semi-naturalised condition, 

 and as field hedges; Sanscvicra is present but scarce, and 

 Cassava (manihot) mealies and Mapira (sorghum) are the 

 principal native cultures. 



