FLORA OF PORTrGLESE EAST AFRICA. 301 



now very large specimens and apparently disconnected from 

 human agency. Even the Orange and Cajanus indiciis (Dholl) 

 are to befouiid abandoned at the present time, and in a century 

 or two may appear to be quite indigenous, as is now the case 

 with a good many small herbaceous weeds. 



Without a full list of the flora it is impossible to say definitely 

 what Orders are represented by most species, since some 

 species seldom absent do not form a noticeable feature in the 

 landscape, but, taking into account the abundance and size of 

 specimens as well as the number of species, I would be inclined 

 to arrange the general effect in the following order, viz.: — 



I^eguminosae. "-'i-' I /» i^--^ 



Composita?. -\0^'^'l^ > 



(irammea?. ^^ — ::"^--^ ^ 



Oyperace.^. 



Apocynnceie. 



Rubiacea.'. 



Eupliorbiace.T. 



Sterculiacefe. 



Malvaceae. 



Bixinea?. 



Urticacese. 



Verbenacea?. 

 Orchidaceae is sparingly represented throughout the Province 

 and the number of Fern species is remarkably small, and these 

 are not common. 



C)f Erica only one species was noticed, of l*roteacese two 

 Protccc and one Faurca, and of Coniferae only one Podocarpus. 

 Speaking" generally, the flora of the Province presents the 

 following characteristics : — 



I. The prevalence of bush or forest country, and especially 



of Leguminous trees of medium size. 



II. The absence of extensive grass-veld except under trees. 



III. The scarcity of Orchids and Ferns. 



IV. The wide distribution of many species. 



V. The wide distribution of exotic or doubtfullv-indigenous 



kinds. 



VI. The power of recovering" forest growth in a few years 

 after cultivated land is abandoned. 



Worthy of notice is the exact knowledge which everv native 

 possesses, of the flora of his own district, not only in its 

 utilitarian aspect, but also in regard to nomenclature and dis- 

 tribution, quite apart from any utility. 



As about ten native and several European languages are in 

 use in the Province, and in some of these native languages 

 the list of plant names is longer than the whole vocabulary on 

 other subjects, and as some plants extend through the whole 

 area of the Province, it is no small task to reduce this Babel 

 into order, and is only worth doing in regard to the more 

 important kinds. These are almost invariably trees, and so 

 far as opportunity offered I have dealt with the local nomen- 

 clature and utilitarian qualities of the various trees in my Forest 

 Flora of the Province, and therefore will not touch upon these 

 subjects here. 



