28 Journal of Travel and Natural History 



in tropical South Africa, where, in so small a circuit, we find the 

 vegetation so varied, peculiar, and at the same time, so nearly 

 related to that of countries far distant from it and far distant from 

 each other ; nay, I should call Pungo Andongo a botanical garden, 

 in form of an extensive grand park, in which are found the most 

 interesting treasures of vegetation, from the various districts of tro- 

 pical and sub-tropical Africa, judiciously grouped together, with a 

 considerable number of forms of vegetation quite peculiar to itself. 

 It would by far surpass the space allowed me to give here a 

 detailed account of the highly interesting flora of the rock-district, 

 I shall, therefore, only point out a few of those genera which, in a 

 prominent degree, characterise the vegetation of Pungo Andongo. 

 Amongst these the numerous succulent plants take the foremost 

 rank, mostly of the order of Aloes, Orchids, Euphorbias, Asclepiads, 

 and even of Labiates, associated with Rhipsalis Cassytha, Gart., 

 the only cactaceous plant hitherto found really wild out of the 

 American continent. These overgrow the rock walls in every 

 direction, often up to their summits, in the most variegated form, 

 and generally associated with Cissoideae and fragrant VerbenaceK. 

 The prettiest ferns, some with gold-coloured fronds, grow abun- 

 dantly over the crevices, whilst the gorgeous Musa ensete, and the 

 beautiful tree-fern, Cynthia Angolensis, Welw.,* embellish the margins 

 of the numerous streamlets. The meadows on the mountain slopes 

 make a richly variegated display, with the blue and red flowers 

 of different Commelynacese and Indigoferas, profusely inter- 

 spersed with many white or orange blooming Cyperace?s,t whilst 

 the cliffs are adorned with various species of Gladiolus, curious 

 Hgemodoraceae, resembling Vellosias, and the superb Gloriosa 

 Abyssinica, with its profuse and gorgeous blossoms. In the 

 wide woody ravines, the entrances of which are decorated with 

 chmbing Hugoniae grow the peculiar Monodora Angolensis, the 

 mimosa-leaved Parkia, in company with other strange tree forms 

 of Violaceae, Sterculiaceaj, and Apocynacere. In narrow ravines, 

 the botanist is surprised by pretty Begonias, strangely shaped 

 Dorstenias, and several elegant pygmy Piperacea:. But the 

 greatest variety is offered by the shrubs of the underwood in 

 which Leguminous, Acanthaceous, Vcrbenaceous, and immense 



* Hooker, Synopsis Filicum, p. 22. 



t Tlicre arc four or five species of Asclepias, all having more 01 loss tlic 

 appearance of white or yellow-headed composite flowers. 



