PREFACE. 



A LTHOUGH the number of popular names recorded in this 

 -^^ book is quite considerable, we have no doubt that many 

 more exist and that various untapped sources of information 

 are still available among the older residents of the country. 



Vernacular names are not always reliable from a botanical 

 point of view, for the same name is sometimes used for 

 different plants in different districts, while, on the other hand, 

 many plants bear several designations, e.g. Sutherlandia 

 frutescens, for which we give ten, but there may be more. This 

 is, however, nothing in comparison with European conditions. 

 InHegi's Flora of Middle Europe one finds 

 for the common Meadow saffron {Colchicum autumnale) 149 

 names enumerated for that area. 



In spite of some uncertainty the common names, if judicious- 

 ly employed and accepted with a little care, are useful and 

 handy — they certainly help to disseminate knowledge and love 

 of plants among the people, and that alone would justify their 

 preservation. 



In using the book a few additional points should be borne 



in mind. Compound names will be generally found under the 



principal word, e.g. " Wild chestnut " under ^' Chestnut ". 



Foreign plants which have established themselves in our Flora 



and are able to persist and spread without artificial aid, appear 



in parts I. and II., others, which depend upon planting or 



sowing by the hand of man, will be found in part III. For an 



observer living at Cape Town it is not always possible to decide 



this point correctly, hence we have no doubt that our lists will 



require some revision in this as in other directions — 



, suggestions will be gratefully received. 



5^ It had been originally intended to publish the list of the 



22 common names of plants after the completion of our " Flora 



j of South Africa". Owing to certain delays it has been con- 



iLf-5 sidered preferable to issue the Dictionary in the meantime; 



may it prove to be a useful little book. 

 ■I I 1 

 Hi 



