THE GENUS FAGAEA 205 



Boherhon in Herb. Dep. Forests, 1489! Onderstepoort, Mogg in 

 Govt. Herb. 15671 ! — Kustenburg Div. ; Rustenburg, Collins in 

 Herb. Transv, Mus. 6995 !— Heidelberg Div. ; Schoongezicht, 5000 ft., 

 Burtt-Bavy 17112! — Waterberg Div. ; Warmbaths, Leendertz in 

 Herb. Transv. Mus. 7592 ! — Potchefstroom Div. ; in shade of cabbage 

 palms on mountain, Klerksdorp, Nelson 312 ! and in Herb. Transv. 

 Mus. 11769!— Lydenberg Div.; Sterk Hill, June, Burtt-Davy, 454!— 

 Zoutpansberg Div. ; Pietersberg, Bogers, 14141 ! and in Herb. Transv. 

 Mus. 15486 ! 



RnoDEsiA : Bulawayo, Zeally 52 ! — Melsetter Div. ; Victoria, 

 Munro 791 ; 



Sim (I. c.) writes: *' A most variable species in regard to the size 

 of the tree, the size of the leaves, the size number and cutting of the 

 leaflets, and the size and laxity of the panicles, all these characters 

 varying with age and surroundings. In dense high forest it forms a 

 fine umbrageous tree with large leaves, large open panicles, and stems 

 set with the very remarkable knots from which the vernacular names 

 [knobwood, &c.] are derived; these sometimes measure 3 inches long 

 and 1^ inches diam., with an abrupt point. In scrub, the stems, 

 petioles, and nerves are sometimes very prickly, and sometimes devoid 

 of prickles, and the panicles much reduced, while on the coast more 

 succulent and less prickly foliage prevails." 



W. capense is reserved in each conservancy. It flowers in early 

 summer, fruits ripen in autumn, about 20,000 clean seeds weighing a 

 pound, Pappe (Fl. Cap. Med. Prodr. 6) calls the fruit "Wild 

 Cardamom," which he states, on account of its aromatic qualities, is 

 prescribed for flatulency and paralysis." Smith states that a decoc- 

 tion of the root is used for snake bite ; that the inner bark pounded 

 into paste is applied to an aching tooth, takes away all pain, and that 

 the leaves are used for disinfecting Miltziek meat. The Conservator 

 of Forests, Midland Conservancy, Knysna, in a letter to the Chief 

 Conservator of Forests states that F. capense and F. Thunhergii 

 occur very sparingly in the conservancy. Of the timber of F. capense 

 when worked into yokes and axe-handles woodcutters speak well, and 

 it makes an excellent pick-handle. In the Zitzkamer I saw a bowl of 

 a pipe made of one of the conical protuberances which stud the bark. 

 Woodcutters do not regard the timber of F. Thunhergii highly; 

 they say it lacks dm'ability and seldom use it. The Conservator, 

 Maritzburg, writes': — " As far as Natal is concerned, I think there is 

 only one species. Specimens examined by me show that older leaves 

 are without prickles, while young trees and coppice shoots show the 

 rhaehis to be armed. In the neighbourhood of Paulpietersberg, 

 Xanthoxylon is frequently found as isolated shrubby growth amongst 

 rocks of dolerite. The tree or shrub is represented all over Natal 

 but is nowhere very abundant." Forest Guard Kiviet states that 

 natives use the bark as medicine for horses and cattle when affected 

 with gall-sickness. 



