362 THROUGH ANGOLA 



interlaced as to give the appearance of solid 

 ground. In the water float Nymphcea stellata 

 and N. cerulia. 



FLOWERS. Many flowering plants have al- 

 ready been alluded to in the description of the 

 flora of the various districts of Angola, but some 

 have been omitted which arrest attention with 

 their beauty. It is impossible to give more than 

 a few names, and pay a small tribute to the joy 

 they brought me on many a weary day. 



Perhaps the most beautiful, in their massed 

 effect of white flower and green fruit, are the 

 many varieties of clematis, while the Angolan 

 Abutilons and Hibiscus are worthy of their 

 reputation for beauty though their general 

 colour scheme was yellow, as was that of most 

 flowering species of Ochnacese. Most of the 

 flowering Ampelideae (genera Leea and Cissus), 

 and Combretacese seemed to have adopted a red 

 colour scheme for their flowers, and in C . flammeum 

 had run riot in the brightness of this colour. 



Many of the Cassalpiniese sub-order of the 

 Leguminosse had pretty flowers, especially C. pul- 

 cherrima ; and the mimosa flowers, though small, 

 were delightfully scented a remark which applies 

 equally to the many jasmines of the Oleacese. 



The Gardenias of the Rubiaceae are as beautiful 

 here as elsewhere. The numerous flowering Com- 

 posite remind one of flowers nearer home with their 

 modest prettiness, and of how much more generous 

 Nature has been in her gift of flowers to those 

 whom she has also given the discomfort and 

 disease of the hotter lands. Some of the 



