618 Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
tion against animals. It is not necessary to suppose that in all cases they 
do so serve, and, as a matter of fact, if we did attempt to show that the 
producing of thorns is a method adopted by the plant to defend itself, all 
that can be said is that, in certain cases, the plant has shown itself 
singularly maladroit, protecting parts that do not seem to need protection, 
and leaving other important parts — its crown and foliage generally — unpro- 
tected, e.g. Scolojna zeyheri. 
The palm. Phoenix reclinata, calls for special mention. The leaves are 
4-8 ft. long, with the lower pinnae reduced to sharp spines. These surround 
the crown of the stem, which contains a sugary sap. The possession of spines 
by palms, especially those inhabiting the Amazonian forests (Astrocarytim and 
Bactris) is certainly somewhat difficult to explain by Lothelier's theory (23). 
As Warming also points out, " In the north, temperate, moist climate, 
there occur many thorny growths, the significance of which is at present 
obscure.'' Indeed, it must be admitted that there is much in the whole sub- 
ject that remains at present obscure, and it has been the writer's object to bring 
forward the facts as far as Natal plants are concerned, and not at present 
to attempt to argue strongly for one view or the other, though, as already 
stated, in his opinion, the facts in the main support the views of Lothelier, 
Cockayne, and others — views that agree in supposing that thorn develoj^ment 
is a reaction to dryness of the atmosphere. 
NANOPHANEEOPHYTES. 
The determination of the growth-forms belonging to this and the following 
two classes has been a matter of much greater difficulty than the preceding. 
The actual height of the plant does not serve as a guide, for if it be a 
herbaceous or suffruticose form it may or may not die down in winter. 
The information given in the Flora Cajjensis is, therefore, of little use. 
At the present state of our knowledge, and dealing with such a country as 
Natal, it is impossible for anyone to give details regarding the life-history of 
each species. A knowledge of the habitats is of great assistance. It is safe 
to assume that typical veld plants either die down or get burned down to the 
ground in winter. Since the class of Geophytes (bulbous plants, etc.) is a 
fairly definite one, where any doubt exists, it lies between the classes — 
Hemicryptophytes and Chamaephytes. Doubtless mistakes have been made 
in the enumeration, but it is hoped that these will to a certain extent neutralise 
one another, so that the percentages will not be affected ; nor is it likely they 
will be, since we are dealing with such large numbers. Species growing 
inside the bush or in other situations where they are not affected by fire, 
though they may be herbaceous or very weakly lignified, commonly persist 
through the winter, and even continue their groAvth, e.g. species of 
