Ethulia] Lxxi. composite. 513 



where of all parts of the world the Compositse probably form the 

 greatest proportion. 



Several of the species formerly considered to be endemic at 

 the Cape extend to Benguella ; and not a few of the plants of the 

 Gariep district are properly speaking tropical African, such as 

 Placus gariepinus ; these were at first reckoned as peculiar to the 

 Cape flora, because they were originally described from specimens 

 obtained there, although in truth they were but little more than 

 stragglers. 



Many of this family, whether they are in the adult form herbs 

 shrubs or trees, present a very difierent habit during their early 

 stages, even though they at such early age perfect their flowers 

 and fruits ; examples of this difference occur in the genus Placus ; 

 and corresponding differences are noticeable in Gh-angea, Sphcer- 

 anthus and Cotula. 



Some species occur with vertical phyllodes, just as in the 

 leguminous genus Cracca ; they may, perhaps, on this account 

 be regarded as a surviving remnant in this continent of a portion 

 of the Australian flora. 



The permanence in Angola of certain introduced Compositse is 

 very remarkable. 



In the primaeval forests of the mountainous region several 

 arborescent species occur ; various small trees and shrubs, called 

 moMlu by the natives, furnish tonic-bitter barks and are 

 frequently employed in cases of fever and diarrhcea. In the 

 littoral region the Compositse are comparatively few, but in the 

 mountainous region they abound', and they gradually increase 

 in the highland region both in number of species and in 

 elegance of form. At Loanda Lactuca gorceensis affords an ex- 

 cellent salad. The Cravo de defunto, a species of Tagetes, is 

 generally cultivated ; the sunflower was noticed in cultivation 

 only in the district of Pungo Andongo; the endive and some 

 varieties of lettuce are occasionally cultivated in Angola. 



TeIBE I. VEENONIACEiE. 



1. ETHULIA L. f. Decas i. p. 1. t. 1 (1762) ; Benth. & Hook, 

 f. Gen. PI. ii. p. 224. 



Pirarda Adans. Fam. PL ii. p. 499 (1763). 



1. E. conyzoides L. f.. I.e. ; 0. & H. in Oliv. PI. Trop. Afr. iii. 

 p. 262. 



Pira/rda conyzodes 0. Kuntze, Rev. Gen, PL i. p. 355 (1891). 



Loanda. — A slender shrub, 3 ft. high, with flaccid-tender leaves and 

 purple flowers. In fields formerly planted with manihot, between 

 Mangue Schut and Quicuxe ; fl. June 1858. No. 3336: 



Barka do Bengo. — An annual or biennial herb ; stem straight, of 

 a pretty rosy-purple or blood-red colour, corymbosely branched 

 towards the apex ; leaves serrate-dentate, pellucid-punctate ; flowers 

 rosy ; achenes epappose. By swamps along the banks of the river 

 Bengo (or Zenza) ; fl. and fr. Dec. 1853. Also at the banks of the 

 river Bengo near Santo Antonio ; fr. Jan. 1854. No. 3383. 



