INTRODUCTION. 89 
winter rains, Disa tenuis may be gathered near the Kenilworth race- 
course, though its thin spikes of greenish flowers are by no means 
easy to discover. In the same month I have gathered Liparis 
Capensis on the southern slopes of Table Mountain, and in May near 
Rondebosch. Both these continue flowering in various stations until 
June; they are succeeded in July by Disperis Capensis, scattered every- 
where over the Flats. All the foregoing have green or dull-coloured 
flowers, produced at the season when, bright as it often is between 
the rains, there is not less certainly the minimum of sunshine. A note 
of brighter colour is struck when Satyrium coriifolium, with its orange 
flowers, begins to stud the Flats in the latter part of July; and when 
Disa obliqua appears on the sandy slopes of Muizenberg. In August 
these are joined by Satyriwn odorum; and then come on rapidly 
Disperis villosa and D. cucullata, Pterygodium catholicum, Corycium 
orobanchoides, &ec. In October probably the maximum is reached ; 
but November and December are still rich on the mountains, though 
the Orchids on the Flats have by that time disappeared. After 
December the number rapidly diminishes, yet the peerless Disa 
uniflora is in its glory on the rivulets of Table Mountain in 
February. The last to linger are the lovely blue Disa graminifolia and 
the flame-coloured D. ferruginea, which may often be found until late in 
March. The three last named are the brilliant product of the unclouded 
summer sun ; and with them Nature gloriously closes, as in a gorgeous 
and many-coloured sunset, the splendid array of these beauties of the 
floral year. 
