35 



showy flowers are filled with a sweet, watery liquor, which 

 is an allurement to the laborious bee, and to a host of 

 various insects. This Hquid contains a great deal of honey. 

 It is therefore collected by many farmers, who prepare from 

 it by inspissation, a delicious syrup, which is known as 

 the Syrupus Protece (^Boschjes-stroop), and which is 

 of great use in cough and pulmonary affections. The 

 Protea Lejpidocarpon, R. Br. and some other Proteae 

 also supply the same savoury juice. 



RICINUS. Lin. 



(^EupliorbiacecB.') 



XXI. — 10. MONOECIA MONADELPHIA. LIN. SYST. 



79. Ricinus lividus. Jacq. ^Sfe^Tz arborescent, branchy 

 Leaves peltate, palmated, coloured ; their lobes oblong, 

 serrate-dentate. 



It is scarcely necessary to say much of a remedy so 

 universally known as the one derived from this plant. 

 As a mild purgative, the Castor-oil excels all other pre- 

 parations, and is daily prescribed in all parts of the globe. 

 It is desirable, however, that instead of importing this 

 medicine, the colonists should prepare it themselves for 

 exportation to those countries, where this useful plant does 

 not grow spontaneously. 



HY^NANCHE. Lamb. 



{Euphorhiacece.. ) 



XXI. — 9. MONOECIA POLYANDRIA. LIN. SYST. 



80. Hycenanche glohosa. Lamb. An arborescent 

 shrub 8 — 10 feet high. Branches wrinkled, rifted, 

 knotty. Leaves standing by fours on short stalks, 

 whorled, oblong, reticulated, obtuse, leathery, quite 

 entire, glabrous. Peduncles corymbose, axillary. 

 Flowers monoecious. 



Though the fruit of this shrub {Wolvehoon) has not 

 been introduced into the Materia medica of the Cape, yet 

 it deserves particular attention. It is highly poisonous, 

 and its four-celled nuts, when pounded, are used to destroy 

 hyaenas, or other beasts of prey, and seem to contain 

 Strychnium. This fatal bush is an inhabitant of the Mas- 

 kamma mountain, in the neighbourhood of the Olifants 

 River. 



