51 



sessile, ovate, globose when mature. Stamens 8, of unequal 

 length ; ova?y inferior ; style short. 



The big bulky roots of this shrub, which grows ou the mountains of 

 the Stellenbosch, Tulbngh, Caledon, aud SAvellendam districts, furnishes 

 superior charcoal. Its frui\ which has the size of a pepper-corn, is 

 exceedingly hard and almost bony. 



15. Hermas gigantea. Lin. {Um'bellifercB)—Stem round, 

 leafless, erect, branchy. Branches alternate, spreading. Radical 

 leaves on long stalks, oblong, blunt, toothed, very woolly. Umbel 

 terminal, smooth. Involucre many -leaved, shorter than the umbel. 

 Flowers purple. 



The thick, white, woolly integument of the leaves of this plant, serves 

 the natives for tinder, and the women prepare from it very curious 

 little fancy articles. The plant which grows on the mountains near 

 Tulbagh, in Du Toitskloof and on the Kaudeberg (Clanwilliam), is known 

 as the Tinder'bush (Tondel-blad). 



15. Hibiscus Ludwigii, E ^' Z. (Malvaceoe) — Shrubby, often 

 8-12 feet high, slightly branched. Branches and leafstalks clothed 

 with starlike, yellowish down. Leaves stalked, deeply cordate 

 at base, 5 lobed, notched, rough with scattered hairs on both 

 surfaces. i^/o/<'er5 monadelphous, axillary, stalked, large, yellow; 

 stalks covered with stiff hairs and shorter than the petioles. 

 Involucre 5 partite, its leaflets ovate, many-nerved; sepals 

 lanceolate-ovate, pointed, 5 nerved ; cajnule ovate, acuminate, 

 bristly. 



The stems of this Hibiscus furnish superior fibres of great toughness 

 and strength, resembling Jute or Manilla Hemp, and well adapted for 

 the manufacture of cords, ropes, and similar articles. This plant, which 

 is common in the George, Uitenhage, and Katriver districts, and known 

 there as Rose-touw, deserves cultivation. 



16 Hydnora Africana. Thhg, {Cytineoi) — i^oofsfoc^ succulent, 

 creeping, purple inside. Stem simple. Branches and leaves none. 

 Flower solitary, hermaphroditical. Perianth fleshy, tubular, 

 swollen at base and divided at top into three segments. Stame?is 

 3; style one, short, thick; stigma nearly capitate. Fruit a 

 coated, round berry. 



This interesting and extraordinary plant, which grows parasitically 

 on the roots of EiipTiorhia TirucalU and other succulent shrubs, is one of 

 the numerous discoveries made by Thunberg, who mistook it at first for 

 a Fungus. Its fruit, which like that of the Earth-nut, is subterraneous, 

 has the form, size, and taste of a potato. 



It is of a reddish-brown tint, thoroughly mealy ; and when frijed 

 under the embers, very palatable. Some wild animals, and particularly 

 the porcupine (Hystrix cristata), are fond of this fruit, which is called 

 Kannip or Kauimp by Hottentots, and Jackals-kost by the Dutch Colonists. 



