VI 



In reviewing the first edition, I have found it advisable 

 to deviate to some extent from the orii^inal plan, by 

 inserting in the list several plants, which, though not 

 strictly indigenous, have yet become fully naturalized, 

 and are much used in the Colony. 



There are, on the other hand, Cape plants of un- 

 questionable worth, which I have not enumerated, because 

 they are not actually employed by the inhabitants. The 

 different kinds of Sehcea ( Gentian ese), for instance, possess 

 a pleasant, bitter taste ; they could replace the Summi- 

 tates Centaurei mhioris of the Pharmacopoeias, and even 

 serve as a good substitute for Gentian. The large 

 tuberous roots of many of our beautiful and common 

 Orchidem, such as Satyrium erecturo, cucuUatum, candi- 

 dum, carneum, Disa barbata, lacera, etc., contain a 

 great quantity of a sweet mucilaginous, nutritious juice, 

 and might easily be transformed into Salep. The dried 

 and powdered leaves of our wild Olive trees (Olea 

 verrucosa and laurifolia) have the reputation of a styptic, 

 when applied to fresh bleeding wounds, and the herb 

 of Chironia haccifera to be of good service in syphilis. 

 A decoction of the gamboge-yellow, crusty epidermis of 

 the bark of Elceodendron croceum (Saffron-wood), is 

 said by some to counteract the deadly effects of the 

 bites from venomous snakes, when taken internally, and 

 the bark of Protea grandijiora, to act as an astringent 

 in diarrhoea and other complaints. 



For the purpose of rendering this publication accessible 

 to persons more familiar with the sexual than the natural 

 system, I have added the Linnean classes and orders to 

 which the plants belong, as well as a glossary of techni- 

 cal terms, which, in works on Natural History, are in- 

 dispensable. 



L. P. 



Cape Town, 10th October, 1856. 



