yS Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



necessary in hot weather to keep the plant cool, just as it makes 

 us cooler to perspire in summer. 



The thick waxy coverings on the leaves of Senecios, Cras- 

 sulas, and Aloes, which shed rain, also prevent the escape of 

 water in summer. Low-growing plants are often protected 

 by incrustations of lime. 



Besides especial coverings of leaves, many karroo plants 



Fig. 



tylcdon reticulata. 



have their leaves packed as closely as possible. In Fig. 79 of 

 Crassula pyramidalis the leaves shade one another, and no 

 unnecessary growth is expended in stem and branches. 



A plant's success in life is estimated by its ability to pro- 

 duce fruit so that its kind may be perpetuated. Judging by 

 that standard, we cannot attribute failure to Cotyledo7i reti- 

 culata in Fig. 80, although the plant looks as though it had 

 grown on the principle that the end justified the means. A 



