8 



Examination and identification of 32 specimens of indi- 

 genous plants, many of which were grasses and Cyperaceae, 

 one of which was new to the Colony. List of the names of all 

 of them were sent. 



Examination and identification of 40 specimens from 

 Transvaal, some of them were rare specimens. List of the 

 names was sent. 



Identification of a specimen of grass which the sender 

 thought might be a useful pasture grass. It was Agropyrum 

 repens (Beauv.) This grass is a native of Europe, and one 

 author says of it : "One of the most troublesome weeds that 

 the farmer has to encounter. It is difficult to eradicate from 

 the soil, having long running roots which branch out in every 

 direction." 



Examination of a specimen of a grass which it was thought 

 might prove to be a good lawn grass, it was Paspalum 

 scrobiculatum (Linn), a grass which when in seed is said to be 

 poisonous to cattle. 



Some of the plants which have been introduced into the 

 Colony and have become naturalized : — 



Abrus precatorius, Linn. Order Leguminosje. 



This plant, originally a native of East and West Indies, 

 has become naturalized in the coast districts of Natal. Its 

 bright scarlet seeds having a jet black spot are known here as 

 " lucky beans," and are in many countries used for forming 

 rosaries, hence the specific name of the plant; the roots are 

 said to be a perfect substitute for liquorice. 



Alternanthera echinata, Sm. Order Amarantaceje. 



This plant is a native of tropical America, and it was first 

 found here in the Agricultural Show Ground, where numbers 

 of horses and mules were kept during the late war. It was 

 most likely brought here at that time, but so far it does not 

 seem to make much progress, and will perhaps eventually die 

 out. Its prickly flower heads might be injurious to cattle. It 

 has also found its way to Cape Colony, as a specimen from 

 Umtata is in our Herbarium, also in Upper and Lower Guinea 



Amarantus spinosus, L. Order Amarantacm. 



This well known weed was probably introduced here from 

 Mauritius or India about the time of the Zulu war. It is 

 closely related to A. Thunbergti, better known as " Imbuya," 

 it is a more troublesome weed on account of its sharp prickles, 

 both of these plants bear seed in prodigious abundance, com- 

 mencing to do so at a very early age. 



