55 



-/J he stem of this plant, which grows in the dreary Avastes of the 

 Karroo, is fleshy and of the size and form of a cucumber. It has an 

 insipid, yet cool and watery taste, and is eaten by the natives who call 

 it Guaap, for the purpose of quenching their thirst. Infused with 

 spirits, this plant is said to be a useful remedy in piles. 



30. Suhria mttata. 1. Ag. (A/gce.) — Base callous, fixed 

 parasitically on the stems of larger Algae. Frond leaf-like, 

 linear-lanceolate, branchy, mid-ribbed at base, prolificating. 

 Prolifications issuing chiefly from the margins of the frond as 

 fringes, or in the form of small obovate leaves, which contain the 

 fructifictions. Substance cartilaginous j colour deep purple. 



The whole of his handsome sea- weed is soluble in boiling water, and 

 transformed into a gelatinous mass. In the shape of jelly or hlanc^ 

 mange it is usefully employed in pulmonary complaints, as a demul- 

 cent and nutritive. 



31. Trachyandra revoluta Kih. (Asphodelece.)— Root gvo\yinQ 

 in clusters, fea^^e erect, compressed, divaricately branched. Leaves 

 radical, strap-shaped, fleshy, rough, erect. Flowers racemose, 

 stalked, bracteate; sepals spreading, revoUite. Capsule ovate, 

 furrowed j seeds small, globose. 



The flower heads of this plant, which thrives abundantly in the deep 

 sands near the sea-shore, furnish a kind of culinary vegetable, which 

 somewhat resembles asparagus, and is known as Hottentot's Cabbage 

 (Hottentot's Kohl). When stewed and properly prepared, they make 

 no contemptible dish. 



