1 86 Plants and their Ways in Sonth Afi'ica 



Berry round, often only i- or 2-seeded. A climbing shrub, 

 supported by stipules, which are rarely found in mono- 

 cotyledons. The many-ribbed stem is often armed with 

 prickles, which help the stipules to support the plant. leaves 

 oval, glossy, net-veined. In woods, usually on mountains. 



Kalahari region : Transvaal, around Barberton. Eastern 

 region: near Durban, Port Natal, Inanda. South Western 

 region : about George and Bedford. 



Asparagus. — Flowers perfect ; stamens with versatile 

 anthers. Berry round, seeds often solitary. Stem woody, 

 erect or climbing, or spreading by means of spines produced 

 from the base of papery scale-like leaves. Clusters of small 

 green branches (Cladodia) take the place of foliage leaves. In 

 some species a single flattened branch is borne in the axil of a 

 leaf. These species are often called " Smilax." The thorny 

 species are known as " Waacht een bietje." 



Forty-four species of this large genus are found in South Africa. They 

 do not favour one locality, but are found in all the five botanical regions. 



Kniphofia. — Perianth with a long tube. Stamens slightly 

 curved toward the lower side of the flower (declinate), those 

 opposite the petals longest. Ovary with a long style ; ovaries 

 many-seeded ; seeds 3-cornered. 



A genus of handsome African plants with a short rootstock, long, narrow, 

 radicle, leaves and scapes bearing dense racemes of yellow or scarlet flowers. 

 K. alooides, " The Red Hot Poker "' is the most familiar. Many species are 

 cultivated. 



They occur from the Transvaal and Natal to the Cape Peninsula, and 

 are also found in Tropical Africa and Natal. 



Aloe. — Perianth a short tube and long overlapping 

 segments spreading only at the tips. Three outer lobes swollen 

 at the base. Stamens equal to or longer than the perianth ; 

 filaments sometimes curved. Ovary somewhat 3-angled. 

 Seeds many, flattened or winged. 



Aloes are more numerous in the East, but A. riipcsis is found as far west 

 as Port Nolloth, and forms a characteristic feature of the scenery in the 

 Grahamst#wn region. They grow over the sun-burned hills, and like 



