AIZOACEAE 



Plate 48. 



199 



A. Galenia africana L. I. Small twig. 2. Flower. 10/1. 



B. Tetragonia fruticosa L. I. Flowering twig, with bee [Allodape). 2. Flower, 

 the two anterior segments of the perianth removed. 4./1. 



C. Pharnaceum cordifolium L. var. obovatum Holus 1. Small plant. 2. Whorl of 

 leaves and stipules. 3/1. 



D. Aizoon paniculatum L. var. roseurn. 1. Piece of plant. 2. Flower, two 

 perianth-segments removed. 5/1. 



Galenia. 



Galenia africana. (The hraalbush.) This plant is very common in the 

 central and other karroid parts of South Africa, 

 forming rounded, socially growing shrublets, 1 to 2 

 feet high. It is easily recognised, even at a distance, 

 by its yellowish colour, which becomes more pro- 

 nounced during the dry season. 



Although not eaten by stock at ordinary times 

 it forms a final stand-by during a drought, when 

 sheep and goats nibble the thin branchlets. But 

 even this drought-resisting plant is sometimes 

 overpowered, as in the year 1903*. When the dry 

 period lasts for several years, wide areas may be 

 seen covered with thousands of its dead and 

 bleached bushes. A year or two of normal rainfall, 

 however, repairs the damage ; millions of young 

 plants will spring up and soon re-occupy the bare 

 veld. (See Plate 56 opposite Plate 54.) 



Tetragonia. 

 Tetragonia fruticosa. Kinkelbosje. Several species of this genus are 

 succulent and juicy, forming good food for stock. Some have papulose leaves, 

 glistening in the sun like the so-called ice plants, the epidermal cells having 

 been transformed into little bladders filled with water which is gradually used 

 up by the green tissue underneath. 



Aizoon. 

 Aizoon paniculatum. The variety with red flowers is a pretty herb spreading 

 on sandy ground in the Cape Flats, flowering in spring. 



Pharnaceum. 



Pharnaceum cordifolium var. obovatum. This plant which is looked upon 

 as a distinct species by some authors, was omitted from the Flora Capensis, as 

 pointed out by H. Bolus. It is fairly common in the Cape Flats. 



An allied species with very narrow leaves, viz. P. lineare, is colonially 

 known as " Droedas kruiden." 



Fig. 90. Galenia africana L. 



1. Perianth laid open. 



2. Stamen. 3. Pistil. 5/1. 



Kenhardt 



Prince Albeit Road 



Annual Rainfall (Period 1885/1894). 

 Mean Minimum 



673 inch. 2-87 inch. 



•6- 



3-35 



>9°3 

 071 inch. 

 079 » 



M. 



26 



