FLOWERING PLANTS. 237 



the showy flowers of a hundred Ericacece (the pride 

 of the colony) and the diversified forms of the ever- 

 changing Protects, mingled with extraordinary looking 

 Staphelias, Myrtles, Diosmce, Gladioli, and Salvias, form 

 together a rich and varied feast for the florist, and to the 

 botanist, a collection of a mixed and most singularly 

 beautiful description. In the neighbourhood of the Table 

 Mountain, and for some considerable distance up its 

 flanks, the character of the vegetation is very analogous 

 to that already noticed. Magnificent Acacias, and majestic 

 Aloes, grow at the foot of the mountain in splendid con- 

 dition, elevating their showy forms far above the prickly 

 shrubs, and lowlier plants that grow around them. The 

 aromatic Diosma, the juice of which the aboriginal Hot- 

 tentots mingle with the grease with which they anoint 

 their bodies, here grows in rich abundance, scenting the 

 very sod beneath the feet ; and many a gay Lobelia gems 

 the earth around.* Whole tracts are covered with luxu- 

 riant Proteaceous plants, Apocynums, Asclepiadacea, Sta- 

 pelece, Pelargoniums, in full flower, mixed with fantastic 

 Euphorbias, gay Heaths, succulent Crassulaceous plants, 

 Arums, and Lilies, giving the dry heathy nature of the 

 scenery a peculiar charm, quite unexpected in such an 

 apparent waste and desolate expanse. Nor must nume- 



* Among the botanical curiosities of the Cape is the long-spined 

 Euphorbia heptayona, with the milk of which the Kaffirs poison their 

 arrows; the Dill (Anethum graveolen&) is not uncommon; and the 

 pretty-looking Marigold (Calendula pluvialis), which indicates fine 

 weather, by opening its flowers like the ' Shepherd's weather-glass ', 

 or scarlet Pimpernel (Anayallis arvens'ui) of Europe, may also be men- 

 tioned, although volumes have been written on the vegetation of the 

 Cape. 



