122 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



the midlands ; several species of Ficus are plentiful, one or two of 

 Mimusops and a few others, but in this belt forests are not present, 

 the " bush," as it is popularly called, consisting of small trees 

 and shrubs, with occasionally a fair-sized tree of Ficus, Alhizzia 

 fastigiata, Protorhus longifolia, Mimusops sp., and a few others, 

 the undergrowth being copious and often difficult to penetrate. 



In the midlands the hills are commonly covered with grass, the 

 forests, of which there are many, being chiefly confined to the 

 valleys and ravines which usually have streams of water running 

 through them. Here we have the "Yellow-wood" [Podocarpus spp.), 

 the " Stinkwood " (Ocotea bullata), and other large trees, the under- 

 growth being of quite a different kind to that of the coast **bush," 

 and nearly devoid of the thorny plants which make progress in the 

 coast bush often so difficult. Species of Aloe rare on the coast are 

 here plentiful, in some parts covering the hills so thickly as to form 

 the chief feature in the landscape. Helichrysums of many species 

 abound, and both epiphytal and terrestrial Orchids are plentiful ; 

 here also the species of Encephalartos attain a considerable size, 

 plants having trunks of at least 18 feet in height have been noted, 

 while the only two species found in coast districts are either quite 

 stemless or with very short stems. Two handsome flowering trees, 

 Greyia Sutherlandi and Alberta magna, are found here, the former 

 also reaching to, and perhaps attaining, its greatest size in the 

 uplands. Ericas are not plentiful, as we have nineteen species only 

 in the Colony, two of which are found in the coast belt, the re- 

 mainder in the midlands and upper districts, one of these [E. 

 Schlechteri) is remarkable for luxuriating on the banks of the Mooi 

 Eiver, and often being submerged in the water. Ferns are plentiful, 

 and are chiefly confined to the shady valleys, few appearing in the 

 open ground. 



In the uplands there are also large forests of timber trees of 

 different species, including the only Natal species of Callitris 

 (0. cupressoides). Orchids are plentiful, both epiphytal and terres- 

 trial, and the large-flowered Eanunculus {B. Cooperi) is confined to 

 this belt. Anemone Fanninii, with very large flowers, is found here 

 and also in the midlands. Helichrysums of many species abound 

 and the well known Galtonia candicans is confined to this belt. A 

 species of Bamboo (?) often growing in dense thickets is found here, 

 but as the flowers have not yet been seen by any botanist the 

 genus remains doubtful. 



In the coast districts many species of plants are to be found in 

 flower in the winter months, but in the midland and upper districts 

 for several months the hills are dry, the grass either brown and 



