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NOTES ON THE POLLINATION OF SOME SOUTH AFEICAN 
OYCADS. 
By G. Eattray, D.Sc. Communicated by H. H. W. Pearson. 
(Eeceived November 5, 1912.) 
(Eead April 16, 1913.) 
The following notes on the pollination of the Cycads which grow 
within easy reach of East London are the result of observations made 
during the last seven or eight years, sometimes sporadically, sometimes 
systematically. 
I have been able for a time to keep over a dozen cones of Stangeria 
under continuous observation during the critical period and verify my 
former conclusions. 
The notes contain little that is new ; by far the most important link 
in the chain of evidence for the insect pollination of Encephalartos 
villosus was discovered by Miss Pegler and recorded by Professor 
Pearson in 1906 {T^'-ansactions of the South African Philosophical 
Society, vol. xvi., part 4), while my general conclusions are largely 
those foreshadowed by the latter at the same date. 
Encephalartos Altensteinii, Lehm. 
It is hard to say what is the natural habitat of this species. Along the 
deep valleys eroded by our rivers and streams it is found now clinging 
precariously to the face or crowning the top of some precipitous krantz 
now hidden amid the shrubs and trees of a wooded ravine. Seldom 
or never does it leave the river valley for the open grass formation 
of the surrounding country. From its relatively greater frequence — 
at times it is almost social— in exposed situations and the almost 
complete absence of cone production in the woodland forms, I am 
disposed to regard it as a sun rather than a shade plant. In the open 
form cones are produced in fair abundance, there being few years 
in which some cannot be obtained, but a considerable variation exists 
in regard to the time at which they make their appearance. I have 
found them just emerging as early as the middle of November and as 
