Floiuering Plants and Ferns of tJie Ca]je Peninsula. 217 



Amongst the Ferns may be mentioned the fine Hemitelia cajjensis 

 or *' Tree-fern," found in the ravines on the east side of Table 

 Mountain, the stem or caudex of which attains a height of five or 

 six feet. The European Pteris aquilina, or "Bracken " is common 

 chiefly among the woods of the foot-hills. Vittaria lineata, a 

 curious grass-like fern, seems now somewhat rare. Osmunda 

 regalis is included on the authority of old collectors, but has not 

 been recorded in recent years, and it may be feared is now extinct on 

 the Peninsula. Opliioglossum Bergianum is singular as one of the 

 smallest of the genus ; not rare, yet perhaps on account of its tiny 

 size generally overlooked by collectors. 



Aquatic Plants. 



Aquatic plants, though by no means wanting, are yet perhaps less 

 abundant than in many other countries. Surface water is not 

 abundant on the Peninsula, and much of it becomes dried up, or 

 nearly so, before the end of the summer. The most common and 

 abundant of the aquatics is perhaps Ajjonogeton distacJiyon, and the 

 less common A. angiistifolium. Besides these the following occur : 

 Banunculus rigidus, Nymplicea stellata, Oxalis natans, Grass icla 

 natans, Gotula myrioijJiylloides, Lwinanthemuvi Ecklonianitm, 

 Hypoxis aqicatica, Dipidax triquetra, TypJia 2 spp., Potamogcton 

 pusillus, Biijjpia 2 spp., Zannichellia palustris ; and 6 Charace^. 



Sociable Plants. 



Of sociable plants in the strict sense of the term, i.e., of plants 

 growing closely together to the exclusion of all others, there are none 

 on the Cape Peninsula. Two species only have ever been seen 

 by the writer, during a residence of twenty-seven years, growing 

 in such quantity and proximity as to give, when in flower, a 

 colour to the mountain-side when viewed at a distance of two to 

 three miles. These are Podalyria calyptrata, and Erica hirtiflora; 

 but it is not to be supposed that this occurs every year, or even 

 frequently. These may be said to grow subsocially, and to them 

 should perhaps be added Leucadendron argcnteum. 



Tree-Planting. 



Finally, a few words may be said on the change in the floral 

 landscape produced by tree-planting. On the mountain-sides. 



