"216 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



flowers, is common. In Ieidace^, Amaryllidace^, and Liliace^ 

 the number of genera and species with handsome, striking flowers, and 

 occm-ring in quantities, is so great that to name them would be a 

 repetition of the larger part of the list which follows. The most 

 prominent genera are 3Iorcea, Bobartia, Aristea, Ixia, Watsonia, 

 Babiana, and Gladiolus; of Amaryllidaceze, Hyjjoxis, Amaryllis, 

 and Neriue ; of LiLiACEiE, Agapanthus, Lachenalia, Ornithogalum. 

 TypJia capensis (the Cape " Bulrush "), and australis occur along the 

 streams on the Flats. Our only Aroid, the well-known Bichardia 

 africana, occurs in abundance in tolerably moist meadows, and 

 excites the admiration of all visitors. 



Of the glumaceous Orders, the Juncace^ are chiefly remarkable 

 for the monotypic genus Prionium, locally known as the " Palmiet " 

 (P. Palmita), which occurs in the mountain streams, but scarcely attains 

 the size which is seen in the rivers further northward and eastward. 

 The most prominent position of all these is taken by the Eestionace^, 

 which form one of the chief features in the floral landscape. They 

 grow in vast numbers on the sandy soil of the Flats and also on the 

 mountains, several species of Bestio and Thamnochortus acquiring a 

 height of six feet or more, in large tufts, and having a somewhat 

 mournful though imposing appearance ; other species, as of Elegia, 

 Dovea, Hypodiscus, &c., are more elegant, and are often gathered for 

 ornamental purposes. Of Cyperace^ the most abundant both in 

 species and individuals are the genera Scirpus, Ficinia, and Tetraria. 

 Some tall species of Cyperus, as G. textilis, loiigus, and fastigiatus, 

 occur along the streams. Garpha glomerata is a striking large grass- 

 like plant growing sparingly on the mountains and on the Flats. 

 Scliceims nigricans is interesting as an additional evidence of the 

 affinity of our Flora with that of Australia (see a recent most sug- 

 gestive paper by Mr. C. B. Clarke, F.K.S., on the " Antarctic Origin 

 of the tribe Schoenese," Proc. of the Eoyal Society, v. 70, p. 496 

 et seq.) ; Ecklonea, and GJirysitJtrix, as endemic genera, of the latter 

 of which a second species was quite lately discovered within our 

 limits by Major Wolley-Dod. Of the vast genus Garex, only twenty- 

 two species occur in the whole South African Flora, and of these 

 seven species are found on the Peninsula. 



Respecting the grasses, I have already mentioned their general 

 habit of growing in scattered tufts. Stenotaphrum glabrum and 

 Cynodon dactylon, both almost cosmopolitan, are much used for lawns 

 and meadows, but do not appear to grow thus except in cultivation or 

 where the ground is cleared for them. Phragmites coniviunis, the 

 common English "Eeed," also a cosmopolitan species, occurs on 

 the margins of " Vleis " or pools. 



