50 



9. Ele(jia nuda. Efidl. (Restiacece.) — Rootstock scaly, creep- 

 inon. Stems simple ; leaflets erect, round, articulated, sheathed at 

 intervals, smooth. Sheaths cylindrical, awned, persistent below, 

 deciduous above. Flowers dioecious, panicled, clustered, sessile, 

 supported by a small, obovate, acute scale or bract. Panicles 

 terminal, forming a spike. 



This useful reed (Thatc1dng-reed\ DakrietJ covers the sandy tracts 

 of a great portion of the Colouy. Not only does it fix the otherwise 

 shifting sand, but supplies the ftirraers with a most excellent material 

 for roofing their houses. 



10. Emex spmosits. Campd. (Polygonece) — Herbaceous, 

 Leaves ovate, cordate at base. Flowers polygamous, standing in 

 whorls. Perianth 6 parted, spiny, covering the oblong nut. 



The young leaves of this herb, which belongs to the sorrel tribe, are 

 used as spinags. They make a tolerably good dish, and are slightly 

 aperient The colonial name is Duhleltjes-hldren. 



11. FiciniafliUformis. Schrad. ( Ct/ per acece) — 'Root fibrous. 

 Ctdm and leaves very slender; spikelets 3 to 5, lateral, ovate, 

 compressed. Involucre formed by two leaves, the upper one of 

 which is very long. Fruit obovate, rough. 



On account of its elasticity, this sedge is extensively used for stuffing 

 beds, matresses, &c. It grows in dense tufts, and is common in many 

 parts of the Colony. 



12. Gnidia opjoositifolia. Lin. (Thymelece) — Stem shrubby, 

 erect, branchyj branches and twigs slender, purplish, forked, 

 leafy. Leaves alternately opposite, sessile, erect, ovate, acute, 

 keeled, smooth, often glaucous on the upper surface. Flowers 

 sessile, tei'minal, capitate; flower-heads 4-5 flowered. Calyx 

 none. Perianth funnel-shaped, clothed externally with greyish- 

 white dovt n ; limb 4 partite ; lobes ovate, blunt, patent, internally 

 smooth ; throat crowned with 4 oblong, brown, petal-like scales. 

 Anthers 8 ; filaments short; style filiform ; stigma pin headed. 



The bark of the stem and larger branches of this as of all other 

 Thymelcae, being exceedingly tenacious, is converted by the natives 

 into a kind of very strong cordage or rope. It is the Kanna-hast of 

 Hottentots. 



13. Grnbbia stricta. A. DC. Taxus Tomentosa Thbg. 

 (Grubbiacew.) — Shrubby. Branches 4 angular, smooth; bratich- 

 lets appressedly haiiy, streaked. Leaves stalked, alternately- 

 opposite, linear-lanceolate, apiculate, entire, revolute at the margins, 

 glossy, and papiliated above, woolly below. Flowers herma- 

 phrodite, connate into a cone. Cone axillary, many flowered, 



