Alpine Types in the Vegetation of the Cape. 167 
losa, and Leontonyx spathulata form similar pads, and Pelargoniwm 
[spec. non-deser.] bears shortly petiolate leaves of the size of a six- 
pence, on a woody root of the thickness of a finger hidden in the 
cracks of the rock, against whose surface the leaves are closely 
pressed, while Psammatropha frigqida is just like some Alpine species 
of Saxifraga or Androsace, e.g., S. bryoides. [Plate XXITI., fig. 2.] 
The stunted but extremely social growth of Rhododendron in its 
smallest forms is well represented by Celidiwm humile, and two 
species of Barosma, and the thick, woody rooted, but stemless habit, 
by Protea Scolopendriwm, while the decumbent shrublets, Protea 
saxicola, Hrica twmida, and Diosma teretifolia, spread over rocks 
and boulders somewhat after the style of Junperus nana. Even 
the typical form of growth of Salix herbacea is not wanting, for 
Aspalathus nivalis possesses horizontal stems a quarter of an inch 
in diameter, lying flat on the ground, while its numerous erect 
branchlets with leaves and flowers are hardly an eighth of an 
inch high. [Plate XXIV., fig. 2.] Plants with rosettes of leaves 
abound also at lower levels, but Senecio Marlothw and Felicia 
bellidioides exhibit this peculiarity in a most marked degree. 
(Plate XXIIT., fig. 1.] | 
One general feature, however, is specially noteworthy, viz., that 
all the plants with permanent foliage are thickly coated with hairs, 
or are provided with leathery leaves and a thick epidermis. All the 
composites (14) are not only hairy, but more or less covered with 
white felt, showing that the plants of these altitudes are even more 
_ xerophilous than their nearest allies of the lower regions. 
On the other hand, as the vegetation of these lower regions is also 
typically xerophilous, and as a few summits only of our moun- 
tains reach the altitude of permanent winter snow, it is evident 
that the conditions for an entirely Alpine flora, well distinguished 
from that of the valleys, are not present. | 
One point, however, must be borne in mind, and that is the 
incompleteness of the knowledge of this flora at our disposal. This 
is well illustrated by the fact that among the 72 species enumerated 
above there are 16 species described only recently, 14 of which were 
gathered by me in a single day. There is no doubt that a good many 
more species are awaiting discovery, and that a number of truly 
Alpine forms will be found among them. 
