622 
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
CHAMAEPHYTES. 
This class includes all the forms which lie on the surface of the ground 
during winter or have their shoot-apices not more than 25 cm. above it. 
The next class, Hemicryptophyte, is also a large one, and as the two grade 
into each other, it is not an easy matter to separate them. As a result of 
the tendency mentioned above, the Chamaephytes of Natal have been 
increased at the expense of the Phanerophytes, and are much more numerous 
than in the world's flora as a whole (the normal spectrum of Raunkiaer). 
Among Chamaephytes, Eaunkiaer distinguished four sub-types as exem- 
plified by the European flora. 
(1) Active Chamaephytes, with shoots diageotropic and persistent 
throughout their whole length — Emi)etrum niyrnm, LysimacJiia mmimtdaria, 
etc. 
(2) Passive Chamaephytes, with weak stems which lie on the ground — 
Stellaria holostea, Cerastium tricjynum, etc. 
(3) Suffruticose Chamaephytes, in which the herbaceous parts die 
down — species of Labiatae, Papilionaceae, etc. 
(4) Cushion Plants. 
All four sub-tyj)es are well represented in Natal, as well as certain 
others. 
The total number of Chamaephytes (excluding Pteridophyta) is cir. 570. 
The four types of Chamaephytes distinguished by Eaunkiaer are well 
represented in Natal, and in addition there are other types which do not fit 
well into any of Eaunkiaer' s. As in the case of Nanophanerophytes, we can 
arrange the Chamaephytes in a fairly definite series, shovdng progressive 
adaptation to more rigorous conditions, as follows : 
(1) Streptocarpus Type.- — There are sixteen species of Streptocarpus in 
Natal. They are found usually in damp situations, near streams in the 
]3ush. The peculiar growth-form, with its single, permanent cotyledon 
which slowly increases in size, is quite distinctive and unlike anything else. 
(2) Herbaceous Chamaephytes. — There are numerous species which 
have herbaceous but persistent aerial portions, e.g. species of Geranium, 
I^elargoniiwi, Lobelia, Wahlenhergia, etc. They continue their vegetative 
work right through the winter, though not in most cases actively. They 
vary according to situation. If growing in a dry or exposed place, a species 
may die down to the ground, yet the new growth commences just above the 
soil. Such forms — e.g. many grasses — come very near the Hemicryptophytes. 
Other examples of this type of herbaceous Chamaephytes, when growing 
in unfavourable situations, become annuals, e.g. Hehenstreitia spp,, Foly- 
gonu'in s])]_h, C // enojjodium spjp., and many grasses. This is quite common. 
In fact, the majority flower and seed in their first year, so that they are not 
