FLORA OF ISIPINGO. 349 



Plocanium corallorhiza, Polysiphonia sp., Polyzonia elegans, 

 Sargassum vulgare, Sprydia horridula, Ulva fasciata, Valonia sp., 

 and Vanoorstia spectabilis. 



The phanerogamic seaplant, Zostera marina (Sea grass), 

 is also found washed up on the beach. 



The beach is approached by a road leading alongside the 

 Lagoon. On the Lagoon side Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera 

 gymnorhiza and Hibiscus tUiaceiis form a barrier between land 

 and water. Triglochin bulbosum and T. striatum grow in the 

 mud; Panicum laticomum, P. laevigata, Emex australis, Sporo- 

 bolus indicus, Gomphrena globosa, Boerhaavia ascendens, Amaran- 

 tus s})inosa, Chenopodium ambrosoides and Dactyloctenium 

 aegyptiacum grow on the bank and at the roadside. Further along 

 the road on the same side, creeping among the stones and grass, 

 is Ipomea biloba. 



On the other side of the road the growth is fairly dense, and 

 consists of Schmidelia erosa, Sideroxylon inerne, Trema bracteo- 

 lata, Cordia caffra, Osteospermum moniliferum, Cestrum laevigata 

 (an escape from cultivation), Fiats natalensis, F. burt-davyi, 

 while Senecio tamoides, Ipomea ficifolia, Cynanchum natalitium, 

 C. obtusifolium and Rhynchosia spp. twine themselves among the 

 branches. 



Towards the sea-front Osteospermum moniliferum becomes the 

 dominant plant, and other plants, such as Othonna carnosa, Pas- 

 serina rigid ala, Brachylaena discolor, Barleria obtusa, Carissa 

 grandiflora, II elicit rysum teretifolitt nt , Mesem bryanthem tint 

 acinaciforme, An-thospermum littoreum and clumps of Strelitzm 

 augusta, become more common. 



Where the hillside is exposed to the sea winds, the plants are 

 more or less of a rambling nature or low lying. Some parts are 

 carpeted only with Cynodon dactylon and Dactyloctenium 

 aegyptiacum, but the growth is principally a dense mass of Heli- 

 chrysum teretifolium, Gazania uniflora, Dimorphotlieca fruticosa, 

 Carissa grandiflora (resembling a low rambling shrub), Ilelichry- 

 sum krattsii, Asparagus sarmentosus, Turreae obtusifolia, Cynan- 

 chum spp., Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme and Ceteospermum 

 moniliferum. Higher up Aloe thraskii stands out prominently. 



In some places the hillside is very sandy, especially in two 

 little bays where the waves dash up, their force unbroken by rocks. 

 The sand is loose and is continually falling, as it is not held 

 together by grass, or densely clothed with plants. Those plants 

 which exist are Passerina rigidula, which is dominant, Selenium 

 subfruticosum, Othonna carnosa, Kalanchoe rotundifolia, Lauzea 

 bellidefolia, Tephrosia canescens, Celastrus procumbens, Salacia 

 kraussii, three species of Crassula and Mesembryanthemum spp. 

 Creeping along the sands are Ipomea biloba and Canavalia obtusi- 

 folia. 



Growing in crevices of the rocks where it appears practically 

 impossible for anything to exist, are Euphorbia livida, Chenolea 

 diffusa, Gazania uniflora, Aizoon canariense, Mesembryanthemum 

 cordifolium, Sonchus olearcus and S. echlonianus. 



