Deserts 
roots which probably obtain water from a great depth. 
Where it does grow it is abundant enough, and little 
clumps of four or five are found growing or naturally. 
grafted together. The flowers are rather like those of 
the monkeypuzzle cones at first sight, though much 
smaller. But the botanical details show that they are 
entirely unique, and quite different from those of any 
other known plant. The male flowers are also in curious 
little conelike inflorescences arranged round the crown 
or cup.” They are sticky and attract certain small 
insects, which probably carry the pollen to the female 
flowers. There it lives growing to a ripe old age of well 
over a century, and it no doubt expected to be left alone 
forever. But, alas, that is not the case, for Hottentots 
burn its leaves and “a red and yellow leaf-bug ” (Odonto- 
pus sexpunctulatus, Cast.) bores the cones through and 
through ! 
So even here, in the most deserted and useless part of 
the most backward of all the Continents, we find man, 
the Hottentot, in the far too frequent rdéle of a destroy- 
ing angel, exterminating this unique, aged, and venerable 
plant, which expected no doubt in time to occupy and 
replenish German South-West Africa. It does its best to 
improve the soil, for moist patches of sand are found 
under masses of leaf débris, and these form a shelter 
and abiding-place for multitudes of insects. 
1 Suess, Guppy. 7 Marloth. 3 Spalding. 
* Cannon. 5 Darbishire. ® Ursprung. 
7 Leavitt. ® Cockayne, Lothelier, Mittmann, ° Scott Elliot, 
10 Gautier. 11 Andersson, 12 Pearson. 
180 
