24 



Branches erect, one-sided, divaricating, snioath. 

 Leaves fasciculate, linear, axillary, entire, silky. 

 Flower-heads subterminal, stalked, corymbose. Pedi- 

 cels somewhat longer than the capitula. Ray-floioers 

 white. 



This shrub {Wild Rosemary) inhabits the mountainous 

 parts of the colony, and has received its colonial name on 

 account of its smell, which somewhat resembles that of 

 the Rosemary. According to Thunberg, it is diuretic, and 

 used by the farmers and Hottentots in various forms of 

 dropsy. 



HELICHRYSUM. D. C. 

 ( Composites. ) 



XIX — SYNGENESIA. LIN. SYST. 



54. Heliclirysum nudifolium. Less. Root perannual, 

 fibrous. Stem single, tomentose. Radical leaves 

 stalked, amplexicaul, unequal at base, ovato-lanceolate, 

 reticulated, 5-nerved, smooth, but scabrous at the 

 margin and on the upper surface. Cauline leaves 

 narrow, lanceolate, sharp-pointed. Capitula terminal, 

 corymbose, yellow. Scales of the involucre blunt. 



A plant pretty common in the colony, and to be met 

 with even in the vicinity of Cape Town, on Devil's Moun- 

 tain. The whole of this plant, here called Caffer-tea, is 

 demulcent, and, in the form of infusion, recommended in 

 catarrh, phthisis, and other pulmonary affections. 



55. Helichrysum serpyllifolium. Less. Stem suffru- 

 tescent. Branches filiform, spreading, tomentose. 

 Leaves alternate, sessile, obovate, entire, blunt, some- 

 what curled, glabrous above and tomentose beneath. 

 Capitula corymbose, conglomerated, many-flowered, 

 white. 



This species also appears to possess demulcent and 

 emollient properties, and to be of service in the various 

 diseases of the chest. It goes by the name of Hottentot's 

 tea, and grows near the watercourses on the Cape moun- 

 tains, has a pleasant smell, and is much liked by the 

 coloured people, who infuse it as tea. Sometimes the 

 Helichrysum auriculatum. Less., is used for the same pur- 

 pose, and under similar circumstances. 



, 56. Helichrysum imhricatum. Less. Root fibrous. 

 Stem suffrutescent, erect. Leaves semi-amplexical. 



