74 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



stock. A large proportion of the grasses were withered, and withered 

 vestiges of annual plants were also met with. 



After rains, when the annual iilants spring up, the country may be 

 somewhat greener : and even hulhous-rooted plants may at that time 

 make their appearance. Indeed, we met with two fine ornamental 

 species Hahmnthus, belonging to the Amaryllideoi ; and most unex- 

 pectedly, with relics of a showy Arethusa-like Orcltideous plant. 



Character and Composition of the Vegetable Growth. Through- 

 out the tract of sand-hillocks and the Upland plain, nine-tenths of all 

 the vegetable growth appeared to consist of two families of plants ; 

 Gompositoe, and Graminacew or grasses : 



1. Co^npositmviQve dominant. Several of them presenting a striking 

 resemblance to the Ulex and Genistas of Europe; one Clirysocomoid 

 genus having its aphyllous green branches similarly used for brooms. 

 Among the many dissimilar Labiatifloral Compositte, some that were 

 Gnaphalium-like, with yellow, unfading calyx-scales, might be mis- 

 taken for the showy Helichrysums of Austral Africa. One of the 

 most ornamental and frequent plants was the Ilijalis argentea, silvery 

 white, with leaves obliquely twisted, some of its pleasing flowers being 

 rose-colored and others white. Among other genera that were new 

 to me, was one that might have been mistaken for Erigeron, except 

 that its large flowers were yellow. 



2. Qmininacece, or grasses. Nowhere presenting the freshness of 

 our Northern pasture grasses, but hard and dry in consistence ; as 

 Aristida, gen. Aristidoid resembling a slender Cenchrus, Andropogon, 

 Apogonia, CeratocMoa, Agropijrum, Elymus, a congener of our North 

 American Polypogons, and a Psamma-lilce genus somewhat resembling 

 A n th oxan th u m . 



3. Leguminosce. Among the remaining families of plants, next in the 

 order of frequency. Including among other ornamental species seve- 

 ral large shrubs, and even three Mimosece: one of the large shrubs, by 

 a remarkable exception, having deciduous foliage. Among the most 

 characteristic Leguminous plants were the different species of Adesmia. 



4. SalsolacecB. Possibly to be ranked among the prevailing Tribes 

 of plants ; if the maritime species be included. Various species were, 

 however, frequent on the Upland plain ; one of them being a shrub 

 with linear succulent leaves. 



Of plants belonging to other Tribes, the following, being either abun- 

 dant or remarkable, seemed worthy of special notice : — The Margyro- 



