FLORA OF ISIPINGO. 357 



The fourth part is a swamp with Scirpus littoralis dominant, 

 the plants reaching to a height of from eight to nine feet. Typha 

 natalensis is also common, and other plants found are Jussieae 

 repens, Ranunculus jrinnatus, Kniphofia rooperi and Jussieae 

 suffruticosa. 



Following a path that leads alongside a sugar plantation there 

 is, on one side, the swamp formation with Phragmites communis 

 dominant. The stems of the cane and reeds are entwined with 

 Ipomea purpurea, I. palmata, Cardiospermum halicacabum, 

 Ipomea ficifolia, Cissus fragilis and C. flaviflora. Oralis semiloba 

 grows in dense masses on the moist banks sheltered by the cane, 

 while other plants growing along the sides of the path are Dich- 

 ondra repens, Fumaria officinalis, Hydrocoiyle asiatica, Poly- 

 gonum serrulatum, P. lapathi folium, Oralis corniculata, Fleurya 

 capensis, Plantago major, Emex australis, Achyropsis leptostachya, 

 Achyranthes robusta, Polygala hottentotta, Vigna luteola, Sida 

 rhombi folia, Stachys aethiopica, Ethuliu conyzoides, Hyptis 

 pectinata, Endostemon obtusifolius, Indigofera endecaphylla, 

 Tephrosia aemula, Ambrosia artemesiaefolia, Spilanthus africana, 

 Trifolium africanum , Ornithogalum virens, one large clump of 

 Lotus discolor, and many of the noxious weeds previously men- 

 tioned. Several Hibiscus */>/'■ , PL. cannabinus, If. surratensis 

 and Hibiscus sp. were found, and also some fine specimens of Poly- 

 gala virgata and Vigna heliopus. 



A portion of a field that was being prepared for cultivation 

 was almost covered with Fumaria officinalis, Hibiscus natalensis, 

 Bidens pilosa and II ydrocotyle bonariense, while in a ditch separ- 

 ating the fields Plantago major, Polygonum, lapathifolium, P. 

 serrulatum, Ranunculus cooperi, Polygonum tomentosum, Ranun- 

 culus pinnatus, Richardia africana, Eriospermum natalense and 

 Jussieae suffruticosa were found, and on the banks Fleurya capen- 

 sis, Fleurya s/?., Asclepias physocarpa, Celosia trigune, Eclipta 

 erecta, Oralis semiloba, 0. corniculata, Nidorella auriculata, 

 Physalis peruviana, Lobelia natalensis, Lobelia sp., and the com- 

 mon noxious weeds were growing. The banks are shaded by blue 

 gum trees and JLelia azedarach. 



Near the station Mirabilis jalapa and Carina sp. grow freely, 

 and in swampy parts along the line there are Kniphofia rooperi, 

 Richardia africana, Nympheae stellata, Ranunculus spp., Pycno- 

 stachys reticulata, Jussieae suffruticosa, Dissotis incana, Polygala 

 virgata and Nephrodium unitum growing abundantly. 



Other plants which are common towards the inland side are 

 Leonotis leotiurus, Erythrina caffra, Melia azedarach, Eugenia 

 cordata, Antidesma venosum, Phoenix reclinata (near streams), 

 Homalium sp., Clerodendron glabrum, Hy poesies antennifera, 

 Ficus natalensis, Aloe saponaria, Andropogon nardus, Vernonia 

 angulifolia, Senecio deltoid es, S. tamoides, Uhdea bipinnatifida, 

 Lantana camara, Tithonia tagetifolia, Helichrysum spp. and many 

 others. 



Grasses, which form such an important portion of the flora 

 of any district, cannot really be classified as being found in any 



