Kiikumakraiika 193 



varying from six to twenty. Tlie leaves of some are spirally 

 twisted, others are rolled back spirally from the tip like a watch 

 spring. By degrees the beautiful curious plant revealed the 

 secret of its success in making the most of a warm, sunny 

 climate. ^Vhen the winter rains provide sufficient moisture, 

 the full-grown leaves, like those of "April Fool," appropriate 

 it for preparing the year's food supply, which is stored in the 

 bulb for future use in forming and ripening the seed. Christ- 

 mas is its coronation time, when there is little else to lure us 

 on to the parched veld. All through the summer months, in 

 the centre of its protecting leaves, the fruit can ripen under- 

 ground, and with the May or June rains it grows longer and 

 longer, till it projects above ground with all its seeds ready to 

 scatter and germinate. Sheep eat the fruit, and so possibly 

 help to scatter the seeds. How does the pollen get from the 

 anthers to the style ? Does some night moth, poising for a sip 

 of nectar, carry the golden Christmas gift from flower to 

 flower ? 



It is a widespread family, extending from the Cape to Graaff 

 Reinet, and from Mossel Bay up through the Karroo to Little 

 Namaqualand. 



One is almost inclined to wonder just wherein lies the de- 

 light in hunting for the odd fruits. Maybe the enjoyment has 

 been inherited but, at any rate, there ^YOuld be a sense of 

 something lacking if, in their season, a few were not brought 

 in from the veld. 



BEfARTMENT OF FORESTRY 

 N. Y, STATE COLLEGE OF AtiRiCUiTURE 

 CORNELL UNIVERSITY, IIHACA, N. Y. 



I.T 



