14 



but they are much smaller than those of G. grandiflora, and are 

 not so plentiful (Natal Plants, Vol. 3, Plate" 203). 



Oarissa grandiflora, A. DC. Amatungulu. Apocynaceae 



A low growing shrub, most plentiful near the coast, even 

 close to the seaside, but we have seen it bearing fruit plenti- 

 fully under cultivation at an altitude of 2,000 feet above sea- 

 level. The fruit is delicious, and is much used for preserves 

 and jellies, which have long been an article of export from the 

 Colony, though except as a hedge plant it has been little culti- 

 vated, and almost the whole of the fruit used for preserving 

 has been gathered from the wild plants on the coast belt of 

 bush. As a fencing plant it is unsurpassed. (Natal Plants, 

 Vol. 1, Plate 14.) 



Bovyalis rhamnoides, Burch. Cumquin. Bixineae. 



A small spiny shrub most common near the coast, the berries 

 are edible, and are said to be '* delicious, making a fine pre- 

 serve " we, however, find them to be very sour. In some 

 seasons the plants bear fiuit in great abundance, in others 

 little or none. 



Bovyalis rotundifolia, Thb. Bixineae. 



Very similar to the last named plant, but perhaps not so 

 common. The fruit is used in the same way as that of B. 

 rhamnoides, and is known to the natives by the same name. 



Eugenia cordata, Laws. um-Done, Waterboom. Myrtaceae. 



A large tree usually found in moist ground and common in 

 swamps on the coast and midlands. The fruit is about the 

 size of a cherry, and somewhat acid, but is much relished by 

 the natives. The wood of the tree is valuable if cut at the 

 right time of the year and properly seasoned. 



Eugenia albanensis, Sond. i-Nanja. Myrtaceae. 



A low undershrub about 6 to 12 inches high, the stems are 

 solitary or several together from a woody root which is peren- 

 nial, while the stems, if not annual, are usually burned to the 

 ground by grass fires in the winter months. It is found plenti- 

 fully in open grass lands from close to the sea to the midlands, 

 and perhaps in the uplands also. The fruits are about 1 inch 

 long, and are eaten by the natives and by some Europeans also, 

 who find them pleasant to the taste. (Natal Plants, Vol. 3, 

 Plate 205.) The leaves as shown in the plate are small and 

 oblong, but they are often much larger and subrotund. It is 

 quite possible that there are two varieties of the plant, but this 

 needs further observation. 



