556 BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS 
the streamlets, the shrubs do not rise above the height of 
two or three feet. Although the vegetation is so sur- 
prisingly varied and beautiful when carefully examined, yet 
its general effect in the landscape is quite like that of our 
English heaths. 
One of the most common shrubs in the environs of Cape 
Town, especially on the hills, is a Clffortia,* a strong, 
coarse bush, which deserves especial notice for the annoy- 
ance its prickly leaves cause to one in walking. It is worse 
than furze, for its leaves, which are as sharp as needles, 
very easily break off, and remain sticking in one's clothes 
or skin. Another species of the.same genus,t a tall, and 
rather graceful shrub, with long, narrow leaves, is very com- 
mon by the sides of streams, and extends throughout the 
southern part of the colony, as far as Graham's Town. 
It was in the winter and spring months, after my return 
from the interior, that the vegetation of the Cape appeared 
in its full beauty, and perfectly charmed me with its riches. 
In August, September, and the early part of October, the 
beautiful flowers of the [via tribe appeared every where, and 
gave a singularly gay appearance to places which, in the dry 
season, had looked dismally barren. These are, in my opinion, 
the most attractive of all the South African plants. They 
are not confined to any particular soil or situation: many 
grow in loose sand, others on hard clay, or ferruginous 
gravel; some flourish in marshy places, others spangle the 
turf in the outskirts of the town. Green Point abounds in 
blue and violet-coloured Badianas, and with a fine purple 
and white Sparazis.[ On the Devil’s and Lion's Moun- 
tains grow the delicate rose-coloured Ixia scillaris, the 
golden Ixia conica, and numerous beautiful G/adioli, very 
various in size and colour. The showy A4niholyza$ is com- 
mon in wet places and by rivulets among the hills, displaying 
its tall spikes of orange-red blossoms above the grass and 
rushes; the Babiana ringens, with its fantastically shaped 
* Cliffortia ructifolia. T C. strobilifera. 
1 S. grandiflora, var. sometimes called S. Liliago. 
Aiopiea. 
