9 
The collection of a) ears presented to Kew hav tet 
rranged in Museum an escription of them will be 
corporated in the next ZRA of vA Guide to that Museum. 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
A large and varied collection of vegetable products were obtained for 
the Museum from this Commission, including some fifty-five specimens 
of drugs and forty specimens of woods. ” Amongst the former the 
following may be enum d :— 
Groot Bells piia ne Ne: —The plant is found along 
the banki of stream t has a strong aromatic odour and taste, and is 
ve oil, 
u gathosma virgata). e plant APY on the 
mountain slopes, and is used for pulmon nary complain 
Wild Celery (Bubon CURARET R s found all over the Colony in 
moist situations or in ravines of mountains, and has an acknowledged 
reputation amongst the Berpe as a diuretic, A decoction of the 
leaves is used in dropsy and gra 
Wild Dagga (Leonotis Tamra s)—It grows wild in the Sandy 
Cape flats, and often on the roadsides, but is often grown in gardens on 
account of its beautiful flowers. It has a peculiar scent and a nauseous 
“ The Kafir name of the om Umfinca-fin-cane is taken from the 
“ sugar birds sipping the sweets from the bottom of its long trumpet- 
“ shaped corolla. Before the mouth of its corolla opens, w which it does 
“« when the stamens are saps the nectar is intensely bitter, but at the 
& moment of opening the sweetness is developed.” 
Sour Figs (Meserishtyanthemum edule).—“ Few South African 
« plants are so much in domestic use as this species and Mesembryan- 
“& themum acinaciforme, ste “di which are common in the sandy tracts 
“ of the Colony. They a tringent and sourish in taste on account of 
“ the acidulated alkaline it atian which they seem to be impregnated. 
“ The expressed juice of the succulent leaves taken internally checks 
ic 
“ property, used as an excellent gargle in malignant sore throat, violent 
e om sa and aphthæ, or in the form of a lotion in burns and scalds. 
« At the Cape these plants are called Hottentots ae or Hottentots 
e ode “The fruit is eatable and used for preserv 
Xaibosch (Helichrysum serpyllifolium) ns composite pang gr owing 
near the watercourses on the Cape mountains ; it has a pleasant smell, 
and is much liked by the coloured people, ee use it as tea, eae it is 
known as Hottentots tea. It possesses demulcent and a pro- 
perties, and is used in are rh as well as in diseases of the 
Wilde Als or Wormwood (Artemisia Afra)—* The ere Sint has 
“ a strong balmy hia and a bitter, aromatic, but nauseous taste owing 
“ to a green essential oi nee it cea he herb is tonic, anti- 
= avi while its efficacy as a verm ifuge is a rao The 
“ best forms for using it are the infusion, the decoction, and tincture, 
