Preliminary Note on the Flora of Bethlehem 1 3 



was found approaching anything like the dimensions of a tree, viz.. 

 a specimen of Heteromorpha arhorescens which was growing on 

 the face of the cliff and was about 15 ft. high. The bush is 

 broken here and there with small glades. In these 

 habitats are found Agrimonia Eupaioria, Felicia muricata. 

 Valeriana capensis, Senecio isatidens, Pentanisia variabilis, 

 Vernonia hirsuta, Indigofera hedyantha and Thesium 

 scirpoides. Intermingled with the bush are scattered plants of 

 Artemesia afra up to 3-4 ft. high, and in the shade specimens of 

 Myjsotis sylvatica and Mahernia chrysantha are frequently met 

 with. Outside the bush Senecio oihormaeflorus is very common. 



The summit of the kopje is flat and shows some very interesting 

 changes in the dominance of particular species. In places where 

 the sandstone is exposed the dominant species is Calpurnia 

 intrusa, but when the sandstone is well covered with soil Indigofera 

 melanadenia becomes dominant. In the neighbourhood of the 

 Calpurnia area are found Myrsine africana, Rhus erosa (usually 

 on rocky ground rather than open spaces) Senecio hupleuroides, 

 Hed'^otis amat'^mhica, Cazania longiscapa, Senecio Burchellii 

 (occasional), Lightfootia albens (occasional), Pol\fgala rarifoUa 

 (usually in sheltered places). A species of Ursinia {U. montana) 

 a small shrubby plant adpressed to the rocks is found 

 occasionally and usually in rock depressions. The only succu- 

 lents met with are Crassula nodulosa and two species of Mesem- 

 brianthemum. In the area of Indigofera melanadenia are scat- 

 tered bushes of Metalasia muricata and occasionally among the 

 locks are seen specimens of Anthrixia elata. In some patches 

 Rhus discolor is frequent. Where the soil is sandy and of 

 greater depth such species as Berkhe'^a setifera, Helichr\)sum 

 latifolium, Ajuga ophrydis and Hypoxis obtusa are met with. 



Many of the flat rocks on the summit have large shallow 

 depressions in which water collects during the rainy season. A 

 detailed study of the plant succession in these pans vnW yield 

 some interesting results as showing the various changes that 

 lake place in the covering of the bare rock with soil in which 

 the larger species mentioned above are able to live. One pan 

 that still contained water was found and in this were five species. 



