49 



entire, smooth, floating. Flowers disposed in a double spike on 

 the top of the common peduncle, and placed within an ovate bract. 



The root of this water-plant (Wateruintjes ; Wa»er-onions) when 

 roasted, is very palatable, and someAvhat resembles the chesaut in taste. 

 Its flowers, which are hightly scented, are eaten as spinage, and used 

 as pickles. 



5. Andropogon Iwarancusa. Neesah. E, {GraminecB.) — 

 Culm simple, knotty, smooth. Leaves linear, rough at the 

 margins. Spikes 2, few-flowered, fascicled, bracteate ; rachis 

 and pedicels of the male hairy ; inferior glume oval, oblong, blunt; 

 the fertile flower awned. 



The creeping fibrous roots of this grass have a peculiar and rather 

 ferulaceous smell. By the name of Akirwanie they are known to most 

 colonists, and serve as a preventative agaiust the destruction of wearing 

 apparel, &c., by moths and other noxious vermin. This grass is also 

 very healthy and nutritious food for all kinds of livestock. 



6. Annesorhiza capensis, Ch. and Schltdl. (JJmbelliferceS) 

 — Root spindle-shaped. Radical leaves prostrate, 2 pinnatisected, 

 smooth, soon withering. Stem leafless, streaked; hranckes 

 erect; umbels terminal, with only a few rays; involucre few- 

 leaved ; involucels ovate, acute, as long as the flowers. Fruit 

 straw-coloured, winged. 



The turnip-like root of this umbelliferous plant is very nutritious, 

 and has been used for many years past as food by the natives and 

 colonists, who call it Anise-root (Anys-wortel). It is much improved 

 by cultivation, loses its acrid taste, and becomes a very good vegetable. 



7. Cucumis Africanus. Lin. Jil. (Cucurbitacecs.) — Stem 

 angular, smooth, decumbent. Leaves alternate, stalked, 3-5 lobed, 

 shaggy, hispid underneath. Flowers peduncled, single, opposite 

 the leaves. Fruit an oblong, bristly pepo. 



This species of cucumber (Thorn-cucumber J , which is easily recog- 

 nized by its prickly coat, inhabits the more remote northern portion of 

 the Colony. It supplies horses and cattle with a welcome cooling food 

 in those dry and dreary regions, and has found its way into the gardens 

 of the colonists, who use it in the form of pickles. 



8. Ctiperus textilis. Thbg. ( Cy per acece.)— Culm round, 

 sraoothj erect, leafless, sheathed at base. Umbel decompound ; 

 leaves of the involucre numerous, stiff", rough, twice or three 

 times longer than the umbel. Spikelets compressed, 10-15 

 flowered, sharp-pointed. 



A rush, 2 or 3 feet high, which grows in marshy localities and in the 

 beds of rivulets. From it baskets and mats are manufactured by the 

 natives, who call it Mat-rush (raatjesgoed), 



H 



