Flowering Plants and Ferns of the Cai^e Peninsula. 215 



local S, Dodii, of which the large white radiating involucral scales 

 produce the aspect of a shrubby Chrysanthemum ; lastly, the heath- 

 like Audouinia cajntata (so frequently taken by the tyro for an 

 Erica). In Composite the Flora is also rich in handsome species, 

 as Aster fruticosus ; many Heliptera and Helichrysa ; Phoenocoma 

 prolifera ; AlciojJe tahularis ; Senecio elegans, concolor, glastifolius ,. 

 verbascifolius, and others ; Gazania, 2 spp. ; Berkhcya grandiflora ; 

 Gerhera Wrightii, and the curious fern-like-leaved G. asplenifolia. 

 In EEiCACEiE, the Peninsular species of Erica, though so numerous 

 (92), are not by any means the finer ones of the genus. The most 

 attractive are E. mammosa, alvei flora, imrpurea, ahietina, verticillata^ 

 pyramidalis, cerinthoides, haccans. In Boraginace^, Lohostemon 

 argenteus and fruticosus. In Selaginace^, Selago serrata and 

 spuria. In Verbenaceze, Stilhe ericoides. In Labiate, Salvia 

 aurea and nivea ; Leonotis Leonurus. Of Proteace^ the most- 

 abundant are, besides those already named, Leucadendron Levisanus ; 

 Protea Scolymus, cynaroides, incompta, Lepidocarpon, mellifera ; 

 Serrurice are numerous both in species and individuals, but of little 

 beauty ; Mimetes hirta, decapitata, Hartogii, cucullata, chiefly in the 

 southern part of the Peninsula. In THYMELiEACE^, Passerlna 

 filiformis, abundant but insignificant ; Chyinococca eynpetroides (a 

 graceful shrub of the seashore, with small flowers, but bright scarlet 

 berries which are often used for Christmas decorations) ; Strutliiola 

 erecta ; Gnidia pinifolia ; Lachncea capitata. In Penzeace^e the 

 following mountain species are pretty, and interesting as represen- 

 tatives of a purely South African Order : Sarcocolla, 2 or 3 spp., and 

 Brachysip)hon imhricatus. 



Succulent plants, as a whole, do not make a great show. They 

 are chiefly found in the Orders Crassulace^e and Ficoide^. The 

 former includes the fine BocJiea coccinea, so long cultivated in Europe ; 

 of the latter the Mesemhrianthema include a few brilliant species 

 which sometimes form large masses of flowers. 



Amongst the Monocotyledons Orchids are numerous in species,, 

 some few also in individuals. The well-known Disa uniflora heads 

 the list, though now seldom seen in quantity ; and the beautiful 

 blue species of difl'erent hues — D. graminifolia, purpurascens, and 

 longicornu, the scarlet D. /c?TZi^wiea, and the lovely white D./ascmto, 

 occasionally occur in considerable numbers. Most of the species of 

 other genera are scattered, and comparatively insignificant in effect,, 

 excepting Satyrium coriifolium, which is common, and of which the 

 flowers, though not large nor growing in masses, are of so vivid a 

 flame-colour as to attract the eye upon the sandy downs. In 

 H^MODORACEiE, Wachcnclorfia paniculata^ with tawny yellow 



