236 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



Sepals nearly equal, similar. 



Muraltia. — Capsule flattened with 4 horns at the top. 



Polygala is a large genus of shrubs or herbs, with showy 

 mauve or white flowers in racemes, spikes, or heads. The 

 stamens are concealed within the keel away from rain or 

 marauder. As the bee lights on the fringe of the lower petal, 



its weight bears down upon the 

 keel, so that the pollen, which 

 has been caught in the spoon- 

 tipped pistil, is pushed out and 

 rubbed off on the bee's body. 

 It is then carried to another 

 flower and brushed off on the 

 stigma, which is on the lower side 

 opposite the spoon-tip. 



Mundtia spinosa is a stiff 

 bush, with spine-tipped branches, 

 2 to 3 feet high. Flowers red 

 or white. The berries are eaten 

 by birds and children. Common 

 in dry, rocky places and on the 

 seashore. 



Muraltia. — Usually small, 

 rigid, twiggy shrubs. Leaves often 

 ending in a sharp point. Cap- 

 sule furnished with four horns. 

 Flowers purple, or two petals 

 white. 



Fig. 237. — Polygala hracteolata : a, 

 section of fruit ; l>, stamens ; c, section 

 of flower. (After "Botanical Maga- 

 zine.") 



Order Euphorbiace/e. 



This large order is very prominent in South Africa. The 

 plants, found in dry, rocky places, frequently resemble Cactus, 

 which is not represented in the flora of this country. Unless 

 the plants are in flower, it is often difficult to distinguish the 

 two orders. The flowers of the Euphorbia family are incon- 

 spicuous and always imperfect. Both corolla and calyx .may 



