78 
NATURE 
. [May 27, 1886 
within very narrow and well-defined areas. There are 
five of these areas, differing from one another in the 
aspect as well as in the composition of their floras more 
decisively than do any other five contiguous areas of 
similarly small extent on the surface of the globe. These 
five together have been estimated to contain the extra- 
ordinary number of 14,000 species of flowering plants ! 
which are comprised under 200 natural orders (nearly 
three-fourths of the known orders of plants), and 1255 
genera (one-sixth of the described genera of the whole 
world). Though possessing no truly Alpine region, it is 
by far the richest extra-tropical area on the globe in 
respect of genera and species, and is probably not sur- 
passed by any tropical area of equal extent; a circum- 
stance which may be taken together with the fact, that 
the vast proportion of the species are low herbs or small 
shrubs—trees being very rare both in species and indi- 
viduals, and that there is not a single arboreous genus of 
more than a very few species. Thereis no dominant genus 
of trees like the Eucalypti of Australia and the Conifers of 
northern regions, or even the oaks or beeches of Europe, 
that monopolise great areas and determine the absence 
or presence of a multitude of plants of lower stature. The 
following are Mr. Bolus’s regions :— 
(1) The South-Western Region—This (which might 
he called the Cape proper region) extends in a curve 
from near the mouth of Olifant’s River along the 
coast facing the Western Atlantic, round by the Cape of 
Good Hope to Cape Agulhas, and thence to near Port 
Elizabeth along the coast facing the Southern Atlantic. 
Throughout its length—about 600 miles—it maintains a 
breadth of between 40 and 80 miles, never more or less, 
and is bounded on its landward sides by mountain-ranges 
attaining 4000 to nearly 8000 feet in elevation—of which 
the eastern run east and west, the western north and 
south. The surface is varied with bushy, grassy, sandy, 
and rocky tracts, of which some appear desolate from a 
distance, but on examination are found to swarm with 
genera and species. It is a region of small-leaved 
herbs and bushes—of Iridea, Orchidez, Rutacee, Ericeze, 
Restiaceze, Compositz, Proteaceze, Polygaleze, Mesembry- 
anthemums, Oxalidez, Geraniacez, and Leguminose. It 
is that whence all the Cape plants of the greenhouses of 
the last generation were derived. The climate is dry, tem- 
perate, and comparatively equable, with a winter rainfall 
which varies excessively from 24 inches at Cape Town to 
60 in some of its own suburbs, but everywhere rapidly 
diminishing with distance from the coast and from the 
vicinity of Cape Town. The few forests are near the few 
rivers, and their trees rarely exceed 50 feet in height. As 
an instance of the endemic nature of its vegetation, the 
genus Erica forms one of the many conspicuous 
examples. It contains no fewer than 300 Cape species ; 
all, or nearly all, are confined to this region, and various 
other genera contain upwards of 100 endemic species. 
The total number of flowering plants in this region is 
about 4500. No temperate area of the globe of its extent 
is nearly so peculiar or rich. California offers but a faint 
counterpart ; and the restriction of the majority of the spe- 
cies of Cistus and Ulex to the Atlantic coasts of Europe 
offers an even fainter example of restricted distribution. 
(2) The Tropical African Region (which might be 
called the Natal region).—Unlike the western tem- 
perate coast, the vegetation of the eastern temperate 
retains the characteristic features of that of tropical Africa. 
From Port Elizabeth northwards to Abyssinia there is no 
sharp delimitation of floras. This region is bounded on 
the east and south-east by the Atlantic, and stretches 
inland for from 60 to too miles to ranges of mountains 
of 5000 to 10,000 feet high, which bound it on the west. 
The surface is varied with bush and park, which, pro- 
ceeding northward, give place here and there to exten- 
sive forests, and it is traversed by many streams. The 
herbage, and bush- and tree-foliage, are greener than in the 
south-western district, and the foliage larger. The rains 
are summer ones, the temperature rather higher than in 
the west, and much more so to the north. Though there 
is some overlapping of the vegetations of this and the Cape 
region proper in the neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth and 
Grahamstown, the transition from one to the other is won- 
derfully sudden. The 300 heaths may be said to disappear 
bodily, as do the Cape Rutacez, Proteacez, and Orchidez, 
As suddenly appear giant Cycadea, Aloes, leafless suc- 
culent tree Euphorbias, with different tribes of Orchidez, 
Leguminose, and Amaryllidez, often grouped in striking 
assemblages of grotesque forms, whilst a palm, Phenix 
reclinata, reaches lat. 33° S. Along with African types, 
Indian abound, both in genera and species, especially to 
the northward. 
(3) The Karroo Region.—Returning now to the Western 
Atlantic coast of South Africa, from Olifant’s River to the 
Orange River, aad thence south-eastwards, bounding 
the Cape proper region on the north, extends a vast 
shallow basin about 2000 feet above the sea-level, except 
towards its western or littoral boundary. It forms a curve 
somewhat concentric with that of the Cape region proper, 
and extends a little further east into the tropical African 
region. It is about 700 miles in length, and from 30 to 
70 in breadth from the bounding mountains on the north, 
which are the Nieuveld Bergen, to lower ranges on the 
south. The surface consists of sandy, stony, or fertile 
plains of vast extent, traversed by river-beds, and by the © 
courses of torrents filled by summer thunderstorms, but 
dry in winter. Permanent water is scarce, and (as in 
California) sheep have denuded large areas of native 
vegetation. The climate is excessive ; the rainfall, chiefly 
a summer one, from 7 to 14 inches according to locality. 
During the dry season the country is a desert, but after a 
shower it is suddenly, but transiently, transformed into a 
vividly-coloured garden. 
“T was amazed on visiting that desert country, after the 
rains of June to July 1883, to see tracts, hundreds of 
acres in extent, covered with sheets of living fire or 
glowing purple, visible from several miles’ distance, 
caused by the beautiful Composite in flower; and 
nothing is more curious than to see this luxuriance inter- 
mingled with the black or white branches of dead shrubs 
killed by previous dreughts, standing like ghostly intruders 
on a scene of merriment and joy. These charming scenes 
pass away all too rapidly, and in a month or two little 
that is beautiful remains.” 
The only tree is the ghastly Acacta horrida, fringing the 
dry river-beds. 
Ericee, Restiaceze, Polygaleze, Orchidez, Proteacea, 
Rutaceze, almost all are absent, and a variety of so- 
called succulent plants appear, especially innumerable 
species of Mesembryanthemum, together with Portulacez, 
Zygophyllez, Crassulacez, Stapelias, Ficoideze, and dwarf 
Euphorbias, besides which many other genera that are 
never succulent elsewhere, here have species with fleshy 
roots, stems, or leaves. The tree Aloes of the Eastern 
region are fairly well represented, but by different species, — 
and the same remark applies to the Geraniacex of the 
Cape region. The curious Elephant’s-foot (Testudin- 
aria) is a characteristic plant, as are the two species of — 
the parasitical Rafflesiaceous genus Hydnora, which 
extends to Abyssinia. 
(4) Avery singular region or subdivision of the Karroo 
region is called by Mr. Bolus the “ Upper Karroo,” or 
“ yezion of Composite,” which occupies an inland broad 
area north of the Karroo region, everywhere distant from 
the coast, about 400 miles from east to west, and 150 to: 
200 miles in breadth. It is a mountainous country, only 
partially explored, and supposed to have a mean elevation 
of 4000 to 5000 feet. Its prevalent features are that of a 
treeless, heathy tract, or dry elevated moorland, covered 
with shrublets of a dull hue. 
summer nights are always cool, sharp frosts are common, 
Of the Orders of the Cape region proper, 
The climate is severe, the 
