The Groivth-Forms of Natal Flants. 
623 
dependent on vegetative existence during winter. In certain situations, and 
in particular in cultivated soil, they are always annuals. 
(3) Passive Chamaephytes, as defined by Eaunkiaer, are weak-stemmed 
Chamaephytes, which lie on the ground. They ought, perha^^s, to ])e 
included in the last class. There are numerous examples similar to those 
quoted by Eaunkiaer, e.g. species of Caryophyllaceae and Ficoideae, Aly si- 
carpus rugosus, Cyatliula sp., Amarantus sjo., Cucurbitaceae. 
Herbaceous and passive Chamaephytes are particularly abundant around 
the foot of spreading thorn-trees, and among clumps of them in the Thorn 
Veld. 
(4) Cushion Plants, e.g. species of MuraUia, Selago, Helichrysum, etc. — 
characteristic of the higher altitudes. 
(5) Active Chamaephytes. — Shoots diageotropic and persistent — species 
of Leguminoseae, Oligomeris dregeana, Monsonia ovata, species of Malvaceae. 
It is rare to find these persistent through their whole length. They 
usually die back more or less, the extent to which they do so depending on 
situation. Often, as in other types, they die back and leave a small root- 
crown above the ground. 
(6) Fleshy-leaved Chamaephytes are rather numerous in Natal, 
mostly species of Crassulaceae and Mesemhryantliemum. Many of the 
Crassulaceae are rosette forms. The older leaves die oft in winter. 
(7) SuFFEUTicosE Chamaephytes. — These all die back considerably in 
winter, e.g. species of Labiatae (the Labiate type of Warming), Leguminoseae, 
Compositae, Eubiaceae, Verbenaceae, Selagineae, etc. The commonest type 
of all in Natal. 
(8) Forms which invariably die down so far that they are almost 
Hemicryptophytes. All the Chamaephytic grasses, except one or two, such 
as Arundij/aria tesselata, " the Berg Bamboo," are of this type. Since the 
two classes (Ch. and H.) grade into each other, there are naturally many 
intermediate forms. Perhaps too many of these have been included as 
Chamaephytes, but apart from the doubtful species the class is undoubtedly 
a very large one in Natal — a fact which requires some explanation. As a 
result of his careful analyses of various floras in the Northern Hemisphere, 
Eaunkiaer found that Chamaephytes increased northwards in the Arctic 
region, and are particularly characteristic of the circumpolar regions, where, 
during the adverse season, a covering of snow helps to protect them. They 
also increase in warm regions which have a dry season. Eaunkiaer's figures 
show a high percentage for Aden and the Libyan Desert. 
The Hemicryptophytes are characteristic of the cold temperate regions, 
where there is sufiicient precipitation, but where there are severe winter 
frosts without a constant covering of snow. 
The Phanerophytes are most abundant in warm regions with uniform 
temperature and large rainfall. 
