Deserts 



roots which probably obtain water from a great depth. 

 Where it does grow it is abundant enough, and little 

 clumps of four or five are found growing or naturally 

 grafted together. The flowers are rather like those of 

 the monkeypuzzle cones at first sight, though much 

 smaller. But the botanical details show that they are 

 entirely unique, and quite different from those of any 

 other known plant. The male flowers are also in curious 

 little conelike inflorescences arranged round the crown 

 or cup.^" They are sticky and attract certain small 

 insects, which probably carry the pollen to the female 

 flowers. There it lives growing to a ripe old age of well 

 over a century, and it no doubt expected to be left alone 

 for ever. But, alas, that is not the case, for Hottentots 

 burn its leaves and ^' a red and yellow leaf-bug " {Odonto- 

 pus sexpmtctulatus, Cast.) bores the cones through and 

 through ! 



So even here, in the most deserted and useless part of 

 the most backward of all the Continents, we find man, 

 the Hottentot, in the far too frequent role of a destroy- 

 ing angel, exterminating this unique, aged, and venerable 

 plant, which expected no doubt in time to occupy and 

 replenish German South-West Africa. It does its best to 

 improve the soil, for moist patches of sand are found 

 under masses of leaf debris, and these form a shelter 

 and abiding-place for multitudes of insects. 



I«0 



