Regional Distribution of the Cape Flora. 247 



to see that if the descendants of a smgie species are dis- 

 tributed over spots varying even very slightly in physical 

 conditions, this definite quantity of assimilation and moisture 

 will not be exactly the same, and hence the flowers will not 

 appear exactly at the same period. A difference of a fort- 

 night, or even a few days, will however completely isolate 

 such short-flowering bulbs, and variation wdll go on un- 

 checked. The large number of such species is therefore 

 quite what one would expect. On Table Mountain a new 

 series of magnificent bulbs seems to spring uj) every fortnight 

 during the flowering season. 



In the Cape Flats, with marshy, peaty, or gravelly soil, 

 and usually plenty of water, there are also many peculiar 

 species as the conditions are again different. 



In the Karoo, the plants are, as a rule, quite distinct. 

 There are, however, two classes into which they may be 

 divided. The first includes those which flower regularly, 

 and continue in flower for pretty long periods ; and the 

 second, those which spring up and blossom for a very short 

 period immecUately after a shower of rain, and of which for 

 months, or even for a year or two sometimes, no trace can 

 be seen. 



The first group falls into two divisions — the succulents and 

 those which show the woody cricoid type in an intensified 

 condition. Succulence is shown in the most extraordinary 

 and unexpected places. Sarcocaulon Patcrsoni is a Gerani- 

 aceous plant which has done its best to become like a Cactus. 

 There are many succulent species of Euphorhia ; even in 

 CompositcB there are numerous examples, Othonna, species 

 of Senecio, &c., and in Asclepiadacese there is the whole 

 series of Stapeliete, while typically succulent genera, like 

 Crassula, Aloe, and Mesemhryanthemum abound both in 

 species and individuals. The species of Mesemhryanthemum 

 particularly are so numerous that they have never been 

 properly monographed. 



The second group of excessively woody, densely branched 

 tuft-like plants is best shown by Aptosimum, Peliostomum, 

 and many Compositpe. As an instance of what I mean, I 

 gathered on one dry, stony hillside on the banks of the Little 

 Fish Piiver the following, all close together, and show^ing the 

 most remarkable similarity in habit — Polygala hottentota. 



