54 



26. Prionmm imhnita, E. 31. {luncaccce.^ — Stem partly sub- 

 mersed, black, tough, spongy, as thick as a man's arm; its rising 

 portion tall, often 8-12 feet high. Leaves broad-ensiform, sheathed , 

 serrate, channelled, smooth. Flowers panicled. Panicles much 

 branched, terminal. Perianth scaly, double ; external-one 3 

 leaved ; internal 3 partite. Stamens 6. Ovary 3 angular ; style 

 1 ; stigmata 3 sessile, feathery. Capsule 3 valved, 3 celled, many- 

 seeded. Hook. Journ. of Botan. and Kew Garden Miscellany, 

 vol. 9. tab. 4. 



The bases of the macerated old leaves yield an abundant supply 

 of strorg, coarse fibre, fit for the manufacture of brushes and brooms. 

 The rest of the leaves abounds in a more elongated and finer thready 

 substance available for a variety of economic purposes. The young 

 rootlets of the Palmiet furnish a good dish for the dinner table. 



27. Ruhus pinnatus. WUld. {Rosacece.) — Shrubby. Branches^ 

 stalkSf and nerves of the leaves, clothed with short down, and armed 

 with hooked prickles Leaves alternate, petioled, ovate, acuminate, 

 double-sawed, veiny, smooth. Stipules narrow, taper-pointed. 

 Calyx tomentose ; its segments longer than the petals. Flowers 

 racemose ; fruit black. 



The fruit of the Bramble or Blachherry bush (Braambosch) ripens 

 in the month of January. It is equal in flavour and taste to that of 

 Europe. The roots are astringent, and used iu the form of decoction 

 against chronic diarrhoea, &c. 



28. Sorghum saccharatum, Pers. {Graviinece.) — Culm 

 8-10 feet high, tinged with purple ; sheaths bearded. Leaver 

 broad, ensiform, acute, rough at the edges. Panicle close or 

 branching, erect ; branches whorled, flexuose, smooth or shaggy ; 

 rachis angular somewhat hairy ; spikelets ovate, mucronate ; 

 pales of fertile flowers unarmed ; glumes longer than the fruit, 

 white-reddish at base, fringed at the margin, slightly pubescent at 

 both ends, but smooth and glossy at the back. Seeds roundish 

 compressed, mucronate, white, dotted with purple. 



This hardy grass, the African Sugar-cane, which abounds more or less 

 in saccharine juice, is extensively cultivated by the Kafirs and Fingoes, 

 who call it Imphee. '\ he young shoots in particular are very sweet, 

 and therefore chewn by these natives, while the mature grains serve 

 them for the preparation of flour. Amongst the colonial farmers this 

 plant goes by the nr^me of Zoet Stronk or Suiker riet. 



29. Stapelia p)Uifera Lin. (Asclepiadece.) — Root fibrous. 

 Stem simple or branchy, leafless, succulent, round, furrowed 

 tubercled ; tubercles hair-pointed. Flowers stalked, solitary. Calyx 

 5 cleft J its segments ovate, acuminate, patent. 



