PLATE 62 229 



LAURACEAE. 



The two plants chosen as representatives of the Lauraceae are so different in 

 their appearance, that one would not suspect their close relationship. We find, 

 however, not rarely that those members of a natural group which have adopted 

 a parasitic mode of life degenerate, and therefore differ considerably from the 

 others ; as the connecting links are generally missing, the origin of the deviated 

 group often remains obscure. 



Cassytha. There are three species in South Africa, viz. the widely spread 

 Cassytha Jiliformis, which extends through the entire length of the continent, 

 and occurs also in Asia, America and Australia ; C. ciliolata which is more 

 common in the South, and C. pondoensis, only known from Pondoland. 



The pulp of the fruit is eaten by birds, and the seed thus carried to some 

 distance; it germinates on the ground, but as soon as the little stem comes 

 into contact with a living plant, be that herb or shrub, it attacks it by means of 

 its suckers, the root shrivelling up. Once established in this way it spreads 

 from bush to bush, and even by pieces the parasite will be transferred to clean 

 plants. Occasionally it multiplies to such an extent, that large shrubs or trees 

 succumb to its attacks ; we have seen shrubs of Rhus, silver trees and oaks 

 killed by the Cassytha. (Fig. 101.) 



This plant is sometimes erroneously called a dodder, but it is not related 

 to the real dodder in any way, the latter, Cuscuta, belonging to Convolvulaceae, 

 which will be treated in the third volume of this work. While the dodder of 

 the lucerne and clover is a dangerous intruder on account of the large number 

 of small seeds which it produces, and cannot be eradicated without considerable 

 trouble and expense, the Cassytha is easily dealt with and may be kept in check 

 by a little attention, even if once established in a field. 



Ocotea. 



This genus of about 200 species, mostly South American, has only one 

 representative in South Africa, viz. Ocotea bullata, the stinkwood. The 

 vernacular name refers to the strong smell which the fresh wood emits. 

 There appears to be a second species in Natal. 



The tree occurs in all natural forests and wooded ravines of the South 

 and North, but is absent from the Eastern Province, re-appearing in Natal and 

 the Zoutpansberg ; it is replaced in Eastern Africa by 0. usambarensis, the only 

 species in Tropical Africa. At the Knysna it forms large trees which supply a 

 most beautiful wood, highly valued for elegant furniture and cart building ; 

 hence, where not protected, all good-sized trees have been cut down. In 

 the ravines of Table Mountain all stems down to a diameter of six inches 

 have been felled, and nothing is left besides a few gnarled trunks and young 

 saplings, the latter almost always with large, beautiful, glossy, dark green 

 leaves. In the Grootvadersbosch near Swellendam the trees are as fine as at 

 the Knysna. 



